State of the Art Autoclave Technology in Canada

Wherever possible, Daniels Health chooses non-incineration treatment technologies that align with our sustainability goals.

HOW BIOMEDICAL WASTE IS TREATED

Our trained waste processing staff begin by weighing and barcode scanning each collector. This information is linked to its unique manifest number and stored securely for traceability and reporting compliance. The collectors are opened and the bagged waste contents are emptied into a 4’ x 4’ x 4’ lined stainless steel autoclave bin., Once full, these bins are placed into the autoclave for high-temperature/high-pressure steam sterilization.

After a treatment cycle of approximately 45–60 minutes,  the autoclave bins are extracted from the autoclave and prepared for the disposal stage. At this point, the waste contents have been reduced (melted) and comingled with all other waste and reduced to less than half their original volume. Any waste identification labels have been either completely destroyed by the high temperature and/or obscured by the melted plastic liners.

The contents of the autoclave bin are then mechanically emptied into a waste compactor or walking-floor trailer for final approved landfill disposal. Upon reaching an approved municipal landfill, the landfill operator digs a hole at the working face. The compactor contents are then emptied into the pit and covered by the landfill operator with at least 12 inches of ground cover or other waste. This waste is then compacted and continuously covered with more waste until that section of the landfill is deemed to have reached its full capacity.

Once this comprehensive sterilization process is complete, final sign-off is applied to the manifest to certify complete destruction of all biomedical and pharmaceutical waste.