Tipperary's Envetec secures approval in California for medical waste treatment technology

Envetec's patented Generations technology simultaneously shreds and disinfects biohazardous waste using a non-thermal process.

Tipperary medical technology firm Envetec Sustainable Technologies has secured approval in California for its alternative medical waste treatment technology for biohazardous and sharps waste.

The decision adds California to Envetec’s expanding US regulatory footprint, following approvals in New York, Texas and Massachusetts. 

It strengthens Envetec’s ability to support major healthcare and life sciences organisations seeking a consistent approach to medical waste treatment and resource recovery across their operations.

Envetec's patented Generations technology simultaneously shreds and disinfects biohazardous waste using a non-thermal process. Under their system, treated material is rendered unidentifiable, while suitable polymer streams are converted into recyclable flake that is safe for transport to downstream processing.

The safe disposal of medical waste such as needles has grown significantly given the large increase in injection pens, needles and other sharps in recent years, particularly related to the surge in the use of weight loss GLP-type drugs.

As part of its review, the California Department of Public Health requested additional validation of treatment performance within needle lumens, the narrow internal channels of needles. Envetec completed this work, providing further evidence of the technology’s ability to treat complex medical waste items.

The California submission also included scientific and environmental evidence comparing Generations with traditional thermal treatment. For the biopharmaceutical use case assessed, the analysis reported a nearly 93% reduction in waste-processing emissions and an 80.6% reduction in water use per 100 metric tons of waste.

“California approval marks a significant step in Envetec’s US growth and strengthens our ability to serve one of the country’s leading healthcare and life sciences markets,” said Malcolm Bell, CEO of Envetec, which is headquartered in Birdhill. 

“It builds on the regulatory progress we have made across the US and provides organisations with a clearer path to adopt a consistent, scientifically validated alternative to traditional thermal treatment. 

"The additional work completed during California’s review also demonstrates the strength of the evidence supporting Generations and its ability to move more medical waste from disposal to resource recovery.” 

The approval expands Envetec’s ability to support healthcare and life sciences organisations seeking safe, more sustainable alternatives to conventional medical waste treatment in a growing number of US markets.