Ebola initiates waste rethink

Peter Selkirk, executive chairman at PyroPure, the Hampshire firm that has developed the technology to destroy hazardous waste on site, claims that the UK is "woefully underprepared when it comes to hazardous waste disposal in high-risk environments".

Whilst Ebola represents a small risk to the UK, PyroPure is urging the healthcare sector and industries responsible for managing high-risk waste to re-evaluate the way in which they dispose of it to significantly boost infection control and reduce the chances of contamination.

Peter adds:: "It is too risky to continue the outdated practices of storage of infected hospital waste and its transportation over the highways to incinerators. There are a number of ‘touch points’ through the cradle to grave waste disposal chain where manual handling poses a risk."