Infectious Waste Collection (IWC)

The Envac IWC system is a dedicated pneumatic collection system engineered specifically for infectious and hazardous healthcare waste fractions. It is configured as a completely separate network that does not share pipes or equipment with other Envac systems in the same hospital.

By design, the IWC system:

• Handles infectious waste and defined related fractions through their own inlets, chutes, pipes, separator and filters.
• Converts infectious waste into an inactive residue through an integrated infectious waste process unit or on-site treatment technology.
• Supports WHO-aligned segregation of infectious, sharps and pharmaceutical waste at the point of generation.
• Facilitates contingency planning, resilience, and adaptability for medical professionals facing unexpected changes, requiring extreme resourcefulness.
• Eliminates expensive, heavy, regulated conventional transportation of dangerous waste from hospitals to external treatment plants.

By separating infectious waste from general healthcare waste streams and handling it in a closed, automated system, IWC addresses one of the most critical challenges for hospital-acquired infections: the movement and manual handling of contaminated materials.

Traditional waste practices typically involve multiple manual steps: staff seal bags or containers in the wards, store them in interim rooms, move them on trolleys or carts, and transfer them to loading bays or compactors. Each transfer increases the risk of tears, leaks and accidental exposure to contaminated material.

With Envac IWC:

• Staff place infectious waste in Envac-recommended bags and small approved containers, which are then securely closed to prevent opening during transportation or separation.
• These bags are deposited into inlet hatches with double doors – a robust external commercial door and an internal sliding discharge door – creating a barrier between clinical areas and the pipe system.
• At set intervals, the system generates negative pressure in the pipes and automatically transports the bagged waste to a central collection station, eliminating the need for trolley-based internal transport of infectious waste.

Envac IWC helps prevent cross-contamination by:

• Keeping hazardous healthcare waste inside closed bags and fully enclosed pipework from the moment it occurs in the ward until it reaches the treatment unit.
• Eliminating open transport of infectious waste through patient and staff areas reduces the chance that bacteria or viruses are spread via surfaces or air currents.
• Reducing the need for intermediate storage rooms filled with hazardous waste bags, which often concentrate odours and pose a risk if not managed perfectly.