Thermal Compaction showcased a recycling process at RWM piloted for medical waste ‘wrap' material.
The trial conducted, in partnership with St Woolos Hospital in Newport (part of the Aneurin Bevan Hospital Care Trust) and Halyard Health, (previously Kimberly-Clark Health Care), involved clinical wrap used in protecting the sterilisation of surgical instruments and equipment.
The clinical wrap mainly manufactured by Halyard Health, lets steam in to sterilise the instruments and then prevents airborne bacteria and other contaminants getting to the instruments and products. The packs are then delivered intact to operating theatres.
The new recycling process takes the discarded wrap, and using a Sterimelt machine developed by Thermal Compaction, condenses it to nearly 90% of its original size. This is then turned into a sanitised, solid briquette that can be used to create products from polypropylene, such as buckets, stationery, ropes and chairs.
The technology behind the Sterimelt machine is the brainchild of inventor David Scheeres at Thermal Compaction. The original idea was to process expanded polystyrene into briquettes and now the company has enhanced the technology to work with polystyrene wrap.