PHARMAFILTER - An innovative waste and waste water management concept for hospitals

The project aims to demonstrate a new concept for the specific treatment of wastewater and organic waste from hospitals that is cost-effective, easy-to-operate and leads to reduced risk of human contagion and contamination of surface water. This shall be done through the development and implementation of a full-scale treatment process comprising: (i) introduction of biodegradable plastic bed pans and other biodegradable disposables into the hospital; (ii) a collection system for organic waste, biodegradable plastics and human faeces; (iii) milling installation for solid organic waste and biodegradable plastics; (iv) waste-digester installation; (v) energy-recovery unit; (vi) wastewater treatment installation with membrane bioreactor and after-treatment by oxidation and absorption. It is expected that implementation will result in: a 70-80% reduction of disposed organic waste; conversion of organic waste to energy; 80% reduction of medicine residuals and endocrine disruptors in wastewater; complete removal of viruses and bacteria; a reduction of health risks from cross contamination in a hospital environment.