Cleanaway Waste Management Limited has opened its first-ever clinical waste treatment facility in Bridgewater, Tasmania.
Cleanaway has opened the Bridgewater Health Services facility to support Tasmania’s health sector with the safe handling and disposal of medical, pharmaceutical and healthcare hazardous waste.
This state-of-the-art facility will handle and dispose of clinical waste for wide-range of health providers including hospitals, pharmacies, aged-care, pathology labs, dentists, veterinary practices, school and universities, beauticians, childcare centres, maritime and infrastructure providers. At full capacity the Bridgewater facility can process up to 2600 tonnes of waste per year.
“We saw firsthand during the COVID pandemic just how essential clinical waste management services are. Without this vital service hospitals and other health service providers can’t do their job,” said Cleanaway CEO and managing director, Mark Schubert.
Importantly, the Bridgewater Health Service will treat and dispose of Tasmania’s clinical waste in a safe way with the strictest environmental controls. At Cleanaway, safety and protection of the environment are not goals or objectives they are our foundations.”
The clinical waste will be processed through an autoclave, a specialised pressure cooker that operates at temperatures and pressures ensuring the complete destruction of microorganisms.
“Compared with the traditional method of incineration to treat clinical waste – the Bridgewater’s autoclave avoids the emission dioxins and carbon,” said Schubert.
At Cleanaway, all waste is seen as a resource and the Company’s aim is to incorporate recovery, recycling and reuse throughout all operations. The Bridgewater Health Service aligns with Cleanaway’s Blueprint 2030 strategy which focusses on integrating and expanding a leading network of infrastructure assets to provide high-circularity, low-carbon solutions, seamless service and value for customers.