An irradiative method employs microwave technology in pathogen inactivation. It’s typically used for sharps and infectious waste disposal. Recently microwaves have been upgraded for the treatment of bio-hazardous waste with technologies that control the moisture content. The introduction of microwaves in waste management brought about the advantages of minimised energy loss and reduced heating periods.
There are two systems designed for microwaving – batch and continuous microwave technologies:
Batch systems – involves controlled heating of waste with automatic moisture control.
Continuous systems – uses a shredding mechanism for disposing of substantial amounts of bio-medical waste.