Traditionally, the medical waste industry has not been associated with sustainability. Legislative treatment requirements focusing on patient care and health, has seen medical waste compliantly handled and disposed of in the safest manner for the community.
Med-X Healthcare Solutions, a specialist clinical waste and hygiene solutions service provider was founded in 2017 and has made significant inroads into providing circular economy solutions for the industry.
Med-X’s growth accelerated in early 2020 when it was recognised by Australia’s healthcare, and specifically the aged care sector, as a rising star in reliable medical waste management amid increasing cases of the COVID-19 virus. The volume and rate of highly infectious clinical waste generated by healthcare facilities, surpassed the capacity of other medical waste vendors to manage.
This became a high priority challenge for the aged care sector, with emergency assistance required. Med-X was called upon to assist in servicing aged care facilities to meet the increased demand.
Van Karas, General Manager of Med-X and Shred-X recalled the company’s quick response and assistance in infectious waste collection during this difficult time, “While
they may not be frontline healthcare staff, our Med-X service personnel faced equally daunting situations, putting the health and safety of others before their own. Correct handling of highly infectious waste requires adherence to strict procedures and processing protocols. It’s not glamorous work but it is essential, and we are
extremely proud of our team who stepped up in a time of crisis.”
However, delivering reliable clinical waste management during the pandemic and beyond, is not the only way Med-X is making its mark in the industry. The company is also becoming known for its sustainable and innovative approach to waste renewal initiatives. In an Australian first, Med-X has developed a 100 per cent recyclable single-use sharps container system, aptly named SharpCYCLE™ which is revolutionising the sharps container market.
“When we designed the SharpCYCLE™ range of sharps containers, we did so to meet not only our clients’ requirements for a safe, convenient disposal solution, but also knew we needed to develop a sustainable single-use alternative. Through the SharpCYCLE™ system, new and sterile containers are supplied at every service, and once collected
are recycled, so we have 100 per cent diversion from landfill. SharpCYCLE™ has been created with infection control and sustainability in mind, to protect people and the environment. The additional benefit is that Med-X sharps containers are the most cost-effective solution in the Australian market” says Karas.
The recovery of single-use sharps containers has been pioneered through Med-X’s investment in innovative contactless process technology whereby collected single-use containers are robotically decanted, separated from their contents, granulated and blow moulded into reusable products. Med-X has partnered with local Australian recyclers and plastic moulding companies to utilise extruded plastic pellets generated by the SharpCYCLE™ process in the manufacture of other recycled plastic products, creating a true circular economy.
Through the ground-breaking SharpCYCLE™ recycling system, launching late 2024, the
clinical waste segment represented by single-use sharps containers will be almost fully recoverable and diverted from landfill.
“It is estimated that this recovery system will reduce sharps container landfill volumes by over 28%. This percentage will certainly grow as the market moves to the single-use container system now that there is a sustainable,
recycled alternative,” Van Karas described.
“Although there are good reasons to use single use virgin plastic in sterile environments, the issue unfortunately until now has been the disposal methods both of which negatively impact our environment: incineration adding greenhouse emissions and/or landfill, contaminating our ground and water."
Investment in sustainable technologies such as SharpCYCLE™ comes as little surprise to those who know that Med-X and sister-company Shred-X are subsidiaries of Freightways Limited, an ANZ publicly listed company with a strong commitment to minimising the
environmental impact of its business operations and actively embracing initiatives that protect the environment.
Shred-X was born from the paper recovery industry over 20 years ago, and expanded
to provide certified destruction, recycling and repurposing solutions for a myriad of
materials other than paper: materials which previously had no other disposal alternative
to landfill, including:
IT, media and e-waste assets: Item components are separated, and recycled in the manufacture of new commodities and products and assets can be repurposed giving them a second life.
Coffee cups, QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) waste and soft plastics: Shred-X has invested in new ways of processing, recycling and repurposing used disposable coffee cups with our QSR partners and soft plastics on behalf of our retail partners.
Fabrics and Textiles: Leveraging its logistics capabilities and recycling partnerships, Shred-X has just founded Textura, its textile recycling solutions division managing end-to-end collections, processing, recycling and repurposing alternatives for the Australian textile industry.
Staying true to its heritage, Med-X continues to ensure ethical disposal and wherever possible divert treated waste from landfill, finding innovative ways to transform waste into new products. From rethinking eco-friendly procedures and landfill diversion opportunities within the industry, Med-X already recycle medical equipment. The treated
and shredded product is recovered by local recyclers, leading to a reduction in disposal costs and landfill volumes.
Partnerships in these waste transformation initiatives and the launch of the SharpCYCLE™ system are aligned to Med-X’s sustainable roots and company’s Vision and Mission of Preserving Tomorrow, Today for a Sustainable Future.
Med-X Healthcare Solutions Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Healthy
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