Efficiency of the disinfection

An assessment of the microbiological efficacy of the process was conducted using the experimental protocol drawn up by the committee of experts of the French “Conseil Supérieur d'Hygiène Publique” in document DR/DR/DESINPRO/05.

The analytical aspect of the experimental protocol covers four trials types:

• “Treatment of germ carriers” trials:
These tests use sterile supports seeded with titrated suspensions of bacteria, moulds and viruses belonging to the AFNOR reference strains.  The reduction rate is always greater than 5 decimal logarithms. The treatment therefore has a bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal activity according to the AFNOR definition concerning the "germ carriers method". The average reduction rate is 6.2 log10.

• "Waste treatment" trials:
The reduction in contamination was determined by assessing the degree of microbiological contamination of the raw waste and of the treated waste. During the test the total flora of the raw waste before treatment varied between 2.2.104 CFU/g to 1.7.104 CFU/g (CFU = Colony Forming Unit).  After treatment the total figures for the treated waste were negative (< 4 CFU/g).

• "Treated waste storage" trials:
For each test we monitored the changes in shredded material treated for four weeks (simulation of landfill conditions). In the case of dumping the waste as landfill, the biological risk is comparable to that of ordinary household waste.

• "Environmental monitoring" tests:
Air tests: all sampling points gave contamination levels lower than those found in the ambient air.

On the basis of the tests carried out during the study, the environmental impact (water and air) of the Ecosteryl process was negligible.

General safety

When treated inside the hospital, the waste is decontaminated before leaving the health facilities. As a matter of fact, the managers of these facilities are held responsible for the waste as long as they present a hazard. Thanks to Ecosteryl, the hazard associated with the transportation and the various handling procedures is completely eliminated. The quality of decontamination is permanently checked during treatment and operation parameters are recorded as one per thirty seconds. Installation doesn’t produce any harmful effects and it can operate under the permanent control of remote monitoring stations.

Staff safety

At electric level

All electrical installations comply with the EC regulations in this regard.
All motors are equipped with an IP 55 protection allowing an intensive washing.
All cables run inside metal-reinforced sheets or rigid tubes.




At mechanical level:

No moving equipment is accessible when the unit is in operation.
The hopper accesses are closed and protected with safety switches.
The container lifting movements are indicated by lamps and the accesses to the rails and moving parts are protected.

At individual level:

Each worker shall be equipped with gloves, glasses, a helmet and safety shoes.

Accurate pictograms

Pictograms are placed at all risky places.