Waste-handling autoclaves have been around for awhile, but vendors are still adding features to make them safer and more efficient, according to an article on the Health Facilities Management website.
Recent improvements in technology have been in the handling of the waste. The equipment once was loaded manually, the article said. Today's systems are more automated. Material is conveyed directly into waste compactors.
Autoclaving still does not take care of such hazardous materials as chemical waste, pharmaceutical waste and chemotherapy waste. However, autoclave technology continues to dominate the market because it is "approved by rule" in most states and the process is well-understood, according to the article.
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