Backing sought for clinical waste disposal system suitable for developing countries

Existing waste disposal systems are too expensive for many developing-nation hospitals, especially those in rural areas. This leads to a high infection rate as people recover used medical materials from hospital rubbish bins and sell repackaged syringes back to hospitals as counterfeit 'new' needles through the black market.

The university's School of Design, at its Centre for Design Research, and waste-disposal expert, Malcolm Holliday of the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, identified a need for a low-tech, low-cost medical waste disposal system. They then developed the design with New-Delhi-born undergraduate Sahil Chopra, using his knowledge of local Indian technology.

The new disposal device is based on existing Indian machines that are used for squeezing the sap from sugar cane. The device provides a staged process for the operator. The waste is first crushed beyond use with a simple handle-operated mechanism, and then dropped it into a sterilising unit containing a mixture of lime (calcium oxide) and water, leaving a safe, storable residue.

Hospitals then have the choice of compacting and storing the residue for collection or putting it into landfill.

The process is socially and environmentally responsible: crushing the waste before sterilisation minimises the risk of needles entering the black market and the lime used for sterilisation breaks down safely after disposal. Because of its simple, mechanical design, the device can be manufactured and serviced locally.

The university is looking for sponsorship from investors interested in developing the low-cost design for a large rural population. The Centre for Design Research would be interested in either a partnership or a licensing agreement.