20 March 2024
Newster’s project for the Ethiopian Catholic University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
We at Newster, pioneers in innovative hospital medical waste treatment solutions, announce the implementation of a project at the Ethiopian Catholic University of St Thomas Aquinas in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This initiative marks a significant step toward a greener and more sustainable future in Ethiopia's medical waste management sector by combining cutting-edge technology and environmental responsibility.
Thanks to close collaboration with WorldConnex srl the implemented project introduces on-site treatment solutions for potentially infectious medical waste and liquid laboratory waste, aiming for reduced environmental impact, reduced disposal costs and the promotion of sustainable waste treatment practices in healthcare.
Initial situation
Prior to Newster's intervention, the Ethiopian Catholic University of St Thomas Aquinas in Addis Ababa faced significant challenges in managing waste generated by laboratory activities, an issue common to many health facilities in Ethiopia and low-income countries. Hazardous solid and liquid wastes generated by the laboratory, including those from HIV and COVID-19 testing, were inadequately disposed of, posing serious risks to human health and the environment, and high economic costs.
The lack of sustainable solutions for treating medical waste highlighted the urgent need for change. The volumes of laboratory fluid waste, without treatment could contaminate water resources and increase the spread of disease.
In the face of this critical situation, the project implemented by Newster set out to transform medical waste management by introducing advanced technologies for an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution.
Newster's solution for waste management and treatment in Ethiopia
Through the implementation of the Sanifyco-19 mobile sterilizer unit, which encapsulates both the NW5 and PURACompact within it, Newster has introduced an integrated and highly efficient solution to address medical waste disposal challenges. This mobile unit enables safe and sustainable treatment of both solid and liquid waste generated by laboratory activities.
In more detail, through Newster's patented heat treatment, the NW5 unit is able to transform potentially infectious medical waste into non-hazardous waste, with a 20/25% reduction in weight and 70/75% reduction in volume. To achieve this, infectious waste is heated to 149±1 °C, providing microbial inactivation with a 6log10 reduction of G. stearothermophilus spores (STAATT Level IV - StAATT Level IV).
Instead, PURACompact focuses on treating liquid laboratory waste, purifying it and making it safe for release into the environment or for reuse as technical water or as cooling water for the NW5 unit.
Medical waste treatment at Ethiopian Catholic University of St Thomas Aquinas
The solution enabled a 90 percent reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions per ton of waste treated. The technical innovations introduced have not only improved the safety and sustainability of hospital waste disposal operations but also offered a replicable model for other health facilities in Ethiopia and around the world, highlighting the potential of Newster's advanced solutions in contributing to a greener and healthier future.
Be part of the change toward greener and more sustainable hospital waste management, contact us now for information!
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