Patent ID: 12217220

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of this invention, the following terms are defined:

Generating unit—a unit that generates waste due to its work processes.

Processing unit—a unit external to the generating unit that transforms the segregated waste into a product.

Transformed products—products obtained from the processing of solid waste.

The method for the management of healthcare service waste, object of the present invention patent, comprises the mapping of the physical structure of the generating unit, in order to identify the waste generation areas and the classification of such waste (infective and non-infective, Class I, Class IIA, Class MB), the volume of waste generated and the respective treatment, with the definition of a set of steps that involve the definition of the collection sites, the positioning of the containers, the collection routines, the segregation of waste in a Waste Transformation Plant (WTP), the storage of packaged and classified waste and the destination to processing units or landfills, in accordance with the legislation.

As shown inFIG.1, for the collection of paper and cardboard waste, duly signposted containers are placed in different areas of the generating unit for the specific collection of this waste, which is regularly collected and sent to WTP.

At the WTP, waste from the containers is segregated into categories, such as white paper, cardboard and tetrapack, which are packaged in specific packages and sent to the WTP shipping sector to be made available to the processing unit.

The processing unit informs the generating unit of the amount of waste collected and returns to the unit of origin an equivalent amount of transformed product (such as toilet paper, paper towels, brown paper, packaging, among others).

Paper and cardboard waste that were not categorized in the segregation stage are considered rejected waste and forwarded to a compactor to be sent to a landfill.

In the places with the highest generation of paper and cardboard waste, mobile structures are arranged, being collected regularly to be placed in larger capacity containers that are regularly collected by the supplier and replaced by an empty container.

As shown inFIG.2, the plastics discarded in containers arranged in different areas of the generating unit are sent to the WTP where they are segregated into categories, such as polyethylene group, PET group (poly(ethylene-terephthalate)), being then crushed and packaged for shipment to a processing unit. The effective reduction of the environmental impact under such a system is noteworthy, since the volume of waste is greatly reduced during crushing.

The processing unit informs the generating unit of the amount of plastic waste collected and returns to the unit of origin an equivalent amount of transformed product (such as plastic packaging, garbage bags, plastic bags, brooms, fabrics and clothing, among others).

Plastics categorized as unusable or economically unfeasible are crushed and sintered to obtain an energy cell and subsequently thermally transformed to decompose their molecules and produce fuel gas with several uses as an energy source.

As shown inFIG.3, the glasses discarded in containers arranged in different areas of the generating unit are sent to the WTP where they are separated, crushed and packed to be later sent to the processing unit for transformation into glass products that return to the originating unit.

Organic waste from food scraps and food production is discarded in containers and sent to the WTP in order to undergo accelerated composting for transformation into humic substances by the action of microorganisms. The resulting product can be used by the generating unit itself or sent to a processing unit.

The processing unit informs the generating unit of the amount of organic waste collected and returns an equivalent amount of processed product to the unit of origin, which may be. in this case, horticultural products.

At the WTP, organic waste is screened for the removal of any plastic packaging that, if possible, is removed and receives the treatment procedures applied to plastics. If the plastic packaging is not removed from the organic waste, the waste is classified as common waste and packaged in a suitable packaging to be sent to a landfill.

As shown inFIG.5, the biological waste and unusable plastics discarded in containers arranged in the generating unit are sent to the WTP where they are packaged, sterilized and crushed, being sent to a dosing silo that forwards the waste for transformation into an energy cell. These energy cells offer several advantages such as a reduction in volume and logistics costs once the waste is compacted, and ease and control in processing for transformation into fuel gas.

Heat treatment of the energy cell produces fuel gas which, when burned, generates steam and electrical energy, used in the facilities of the generating unit, thus reducing consumption from an external supplier.

Additionally, one of the alternatives for application of this invention is to build an external waste transformation plant to which hospitals would be able to send their waste. This waste would be processed and transformed at these WTPS and hospitals, for example, would receive the following items in return: toilet paper and other products produced from paper and cardboard waste; garbage bags and other products produced using plastic waste; organic compost for use in gardening and the planting vegetable gardens produced using organic waste; and energy cells for use as fuel through means of the gasification of infectious waste and unusable plastics.

Using this model, returned products are produced outside the hospital; however, compost and energy cells would be used inside the hospital itself. Alternatively, organic compost may be sent from the STP to a licensed farmer and returned to the hospital in the form of agricultural inputs.

Another alternative for use of this method would be to work together with the suppliers of materials for hospitals, which are subject to environmental liability with regards to the impacts of their products and packaging. Such an operation is carried out through suppliers that install a waste transformation plant within their industrial facilities. Waste from partner hospitals would be received at this plant. Processed waste would be returned to the hospital in the form of recycled products (toilet paper and other products produced using paper and cardboard waste, garbage bags and other products made from plastic waste, and organic compost from organic waste and energy cells). Remaining waste would be used to supply energy at the supplier's industrial unit.

Under an additional variation to this process, a WTP may be constructed through means of a supplier consortium. Waste would be processed at this consortium and the resulting products would be provided under the same logic described above.