ECOSTERYL

MEDICAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

AMB SA
622, av Wilson – B-7012 Mons – BELGIUM
Tel : +32 65 82 26 81
Fax : +32 65 82 47 98
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AMB BELGIUM: IDENTIFICATION

a. Business name: AMB SA

b. Owner: Philippe DUFRASNE

c. Business activity: Contaminated medical waste treatment devices

d. Address:

Avenue WILSON 622

B - 7012 MONS

BELGIUM

e. Tel: +32 65.82.26.81

f. Fax: +32 65.82.47.98

g. E-mail: info@ambbelgium.be

h. Website: www.ecosteryl.net

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Table of content

AMB BELGIUM: IDENTIFICATION ....................................................................................................... II

TABLE OF CONTENT.......................................................................................................................... III

1. A.M.B ........................................................................................................................................ 1

2. ECOSTERYL: A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE DISINFECTION SYSTEM ..................................................... 3

2.1 SERIAL 125 - ECOSTERYLPAT: GENERAL INFORMATION ...........................................................................3
2.2 SERIAL 250 - ECOSTERYLPAT: GENERAL INFORMATION ...........................................................................4
2.3 DEVICE’S DESCRIPTION.....................................................................................................................5
2.4 EFFICIENCY OF THE DISINFECTION.......................................................................................................9
2.5 SAFETY DURING THE WHOLE PROCESS ...............................................................................................10
2.6 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION........................................................................................................11
2.7 ECOSTERYL, UNDENIABLE ADVANTAGES ............................................................................................12

3. ECOSTERYL VS AUTOCLAVE........................................................................................................13

4. IMPLANTATION PLANS ..............................................................................................................14

4.1. TREATMENT PLANT: 1 UNIT SERIAL 125 - ECOSTERYLPAT .................................................................14
4.2. TREATMENT PLANT: 1 UNIT SERIAL 250 - ECOSTERYLPAT .................................................................15
4.3. TREATMENT PLANT: 2 UNITS SERIAL 250 - ECOSTERYLPAT ...............................................................16

5. APPROVALS ..............................................................................................................................17
5.1. APPROVAL SERIAL 125 - ECOSTERYLPAT........................................................................................17
5.2. TESTS AND CERTIFICATION OF THE PASTEUR INSTITUTE - SERIAL 125 - ECOSTERYLPAT .....................21
5.3. OFFICIAL AUTHORIZATION OF THE FRENCH HEALTH MINISTRY........................................................28

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1. A.M.B

AMB is a private family group, which was created in 1947 to design and produce special machinery for
the extraction industries. Following the decline of the mining companies and the rise of the
environmental sector, AMB moved into the development of new equipment and machinery to be used
for recycling, recovery and processing of medical waste. The business is centered on a design office and
two production workshops: mechanical and mechanical welding in one and metallic and sheet metal
working in the other. AMB's experience now enables it to offer the international market innovative
solutions to environmental problems. By doing this, AMB contributes to maintaining a safe, healthy
environment and promoting sustainable development.

The devices exported by AMB, the « ECOSTERYL: Microwaves Disinfection Systems », use the patented
process ECOSTERYL to decontaminate waste from health care activities involving a risk of infection. The
waste is first reduced by shredding to less than 20mm; it is then brought up to a temperature of
approximately 100°C -212°F (thanks to the action of the microwaves) and held at this temperature for 1
hour in order to destroy all the micro-organisms present. At the end of this treatment, this waste is
comparable to household waste and can be eliminated either by incineration or dumping in accordance
with the normal methods used for household type waste.

The waste in question is waste that involves risk produced by health care activities: infectious disease,
hepatology, and phthisiology departments, isolation units, surgical, obstetrics and gynecology
departments, etc.

ECOSTERYL is mainly intended for:

– Large hospitals or hospital conglomerates.
– Companies specialized in gathering, transporting and treating medical waste.
– Companies specialized in burning urban and household waste (upstream from their own
incinerators).
– The cement industry as replacement energy.

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ECOSTERYL hospital waste decontamination system has been certified by the Pasteur Institute of France.
This worldwide known agency certifies that the shredded waste leaving the AMB’s devices is an
unrecognizable decontaminated pulp (destruction rate of 6log10 = 99.9999%) that can join the
household waste chain (incineration or dumping of household waste). The devices are also been
stringently checked and approved the French Conseil Supérieur d'Hygiène Publique under the auspices
of the French Ministries of Health and the Environment, according to the EU circular n° 49.

AMB is already present in Europe (leader’s position in France & DOM-TOM), Asia, Latin America and in
the Maghreb countries.

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2. ECOSTERYL: a simple and effective disinfection system
> EFFECTIVE, SECURE, PROFITABLE <

AMB has perfected a process for the decontamination of hazardous wastes using microwaves. The
equipment is characterized by an optimal efficiency: the patented microwave system makes it possible
to achieve an homogenous in-depth treatment. ECOSTERYL is the answer to the waste removal problems
faced by hospitals, problems that have become even tougher due to stricter regulations and the
strengthening of hygienic and environmental rules.

2.1 SERIAL 125 - ECOSTERYLPAT: GENERAL INFORMATION

PAT
Figure 1 – SERIAL 125 - ECOSTERYL

• Processing capacity: 125kg/h:

= Average of 250 tons per year and per shift, depending on the type of waste (the cost will gradually be
reduced between the minimal and the maximal use of the capacity).
• Consumption:
- Water: regular consumption for cleaning operations only
- Electricity: 50 kWh
• Installed power required: 160 Amperes TRI+N/ 380 V motor departure
• Dimensions of the equipment (approximately): 5,6 x 2,50 x 4,7 m
• Weight: +/- 9 tons
• Microwaves: electromagnetic waves at the authorized frequency of 2450MHz. These waves can
penetrate bodies up to 12 cm deep.

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2.2 SERIAL 250 - ECOSTERYLPAT: GENERAL INFORMATION

PAT
Figure 2 – SERIAL 250 - ECOSTERYL

• Processing capacity: 250kg/h:

= Average of 500 tons per year and per shift, depending on the type of waste (the cost will gradually be
reduced between the minimal and the maximal use of the capacity).
• Consumption:
- Water: regular consumption for cleaning operations only
- Electricity: 60 kWh
• Installed power required: 225 Amperes TRI+N/ 380 V motor departure
• Dimensions of the equipment (approximately): 10,3 x 3,5 x 4,7 m
• Weight: +/- 12 tons
• Microwaves: electromagnetic waves at the authorized frequency of 2450MHz. These waves can
penetrate bodies up to 12 cm deep.

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2.3 DEVICE’S DESCRIPTION

The treatment of contaminated medical waste is composed of 2 main phases: waste is first ground up to
a diameter smaller than 20 mm. After the grinding process, it is heated to a temperature of about 100°C
and maintained at this temperature for 1 hour in order to destroy completely the microorganisms
present.

Figure 3 – Phases of the treatment

The waste in question is waste that involves risk produced by health care activities: infectious disease,
hepatology, and phthisiology departments, isolation units, surgical, obstetrics and gynecology
departments, etc. The machines proposed by AMB decontaminate all kind of waste, solid or liquid,
including the sharp or prickly ones.

The quality of the decontaminated waste is constantly checked during the whole treatment process
whereas a temperature registration allows a tracing of it.

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The different stages of the process:

Figure 4 – Schematic diagram

1. A container (660 or 750 liters) is installed on the handling system (2°). The latter lifts up the container
after weighing (1°) and dumps it in the loading hopper (3°). All these operations occur automatically.

2. Thanks to a hydraulic cylinder, the loading hopper opens automatically when a container arrives. The
loading hopper has an air treatment vessel (9°, only on the SERIAL 250 - ECOSTERYLPAT), which creates a
vacuum when it is opened. This one prevents the dust from flying when the hopper is opened. The
airflow is washed, disinfected, deodorized and filtrated over activated charcoal. The airflow is rejected
outside only after this treatment. The treated airflow is of about 250 m³/h. The hopper also includes
level indicators (hopper full and hopper empty).

3. When the lid of the loading hopper is closed, the content of the loading hopper is gradually pushed by
a hydraulic pusher (11°) and the shredder (4°) of 37 kW is activated. A screen is placed under the latter
to get a homogenous size under 20 mm diameter. The shredder is of the 4 axles type including an
automatic anti-blocking device (possible thanks to a current’s control): reversing of the direction of the
operation of the two motors in case of blockage (but also cyclical) in order to unblock the unit and
return it to the normal operation.

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 Figure 5 – 4-axles shredder

4. The homogenate waste is then conveyed in the under-mill hopper before passing to the processing
screw, which brings it to the second phase of the process. This under-mill hopper also includes level
indicators.

5. The processing screw is of spiral type. It is enclosed in a tube with a diameter of 110
mm. The processing screw brings the products into the microwave oven where it is
heated up to a temperature of 100°C. The time needed for transferring it into the
processing screw is of about 3 min. The microwave-heating tunnel (5° and 6°) is
composed of 2 boxes beam of 12 kW (patented). Each box beam includes 6 microwave
generators (magnetrons) of 2 kW. The “Box Beam Thermostar” patent covers the use of
microwaves in stereo mode with controlled field polarization in a specially adapted
recess. This makes it so possible to heat the products “to the core” with a rapid rise in

temperature. The system provides for a temperature measurement at the Microwave

Figure 6 – Example of processing
outlet to check the treatment quality. A control system adjusts the operation of the screw
equipment in order to maintain the desired temperature at the end of the zone (the microwave power
and the screw speed are controlled).

6. The waste gets into the last hopper where its temperature is maintained (capacity of 500 l). The heat-
insulated hopper (7°) is kept at its temperature level thanks to external heating resistors. The waste
stays in this hopper for one hour so that the decontamination can be achieved.

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7. When this time is over, the waste leaves the equipment through an outlet screw (8°) (of the spiral
type) in a container.

8. A programmable controller (10°) with a touch-screen allows the automatic operation, real-time
monitoring, control and storage of the equipment operating parameters.
Note 1: All accesses to potential hazardous sites are protected by safety switches.
Note 2: All metal structures are made of stainless steel (hoppers, screws, etc.).

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2.4 EFFICIENCY OF THE DISINFECTION

An assessment of the microbiological efficacy of the process was conducted using the experimental
protocol drawn up by the committee of experts of the French “Conseil Supérieur d'Hygiène Publique” in
document DR/DR/DESINPRO/05.

The analytical aspect of the experimental protocol covers four trials types:

• “Treatment of germ carriers” trials:

These tests use sterile supports seeded with titrated suspensions of bacteria, moulds and
viruses belonging to the AFNOR reference strains. The reduction rate is always greater than 5
decimal logarithms. The treatment therefore has a bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal activity
according to the AFNOR definition concerning the "germ carriers method". The average
reduction rate is 6.2 log10.

• "Waste treatment" trials:

The reduction in contamination was determined by assessing the degree of microbiological
contamination of the raw waste and of the treated waste. During the test the total flora of the
raw waste before treatment varied between 2.2.104 CFU/g to 1.7.104 CFU/g (CFU = Colony
Forming Unit). After treatment the total figures for the treated waste were negative (< 4
CFU/g).

• "Treated waste storage" trials:

For each test we monitored the changes in shredded material treated for four weeks (simulation
of landfill conditions). In the case of dumping the waste as landfill, the biological risk is
comparable to that of ordinary household waste.

• "Environmental monitoring" tests:

- Air tests: all sampling points gave contamination levels lower than those found in the
ambient air.
On the basis of the tests carried out during the study, the environmental impact (water and
air) of the ECOSTERYL process was negligible.

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2.5 SAFETY DURING THE WHOLE PROCESS

a) General safety

When treated inside the hospital, the waste is decontaminated before leaving the health facilities. As a
matter of fact, the managers of these facilities are held responsible for the waste as long as they present
a hazard. Thanks to ECOSTERYL, the hazard associated with the transportation and the various handling
procedures is completely eliminated. The quality of decontamination is permanently checked during
treatment and operation parameters are recorded as one per thirty seconds. Installation doesn’t
produce any harmful effects and it can operate under the permanent control of remote monitoring
stations.

b) Staff safety

At electrical level:
– All electrical installations comply with the EC regulations in this regard.
– All motors are equipped with an IP 55 protection allowing an intensive washing.
– All cables run inside metal-reinforced sheets or rigid tubes.

At mechanical level:
– No moving equipment is accessible when the unit is in operation.
– The hopper accesses are closed and protected with safety switches.
– The container lifting movements are indicated by lamps and the accesses to the rails and moving
parts are protected.

At individual level:
– Each worker shall be equipped with gloves, glasses, a helmet and safety shoes.

Accurate pictograms
– Pictograms are placed at all risky places.

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2.6 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

a) Air and water

As mentioned, based on the different tests that have been carried out, we can assume that the
environmental incidence (water and air) of the ECOSTERYL process is negligible.

Dust
A suction system (on SERIAL 250 - ECOSTERYLPAT only) designed to keep dust from being blown over
the loading and removal hopper. The air treatment by washing, disinfection, deodorizing and
filtration over activated charcoal preserves the quality of the rejected air.

Wash water and treatment water

Town water is fed through a disconnector, thereby preventing any fluid from returning to the
drinking water system. The wastewater is disinfected before its rejection into the sewer.

b) Noise

The noise of the equipment is lower than environmental standards.

c) Note: the smell

In comparison to analog disinfection systems, AMB’s devices, using the microwave ECOSTERYL process,
emit very few undesirable odors.

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2.7 ECOSTERYL, UNDENIABLE ADVANTAGES

a) EFFICIENT

Maximal level of sterilization: 99,9999% (6log10 reduction of bacteria)

 Waste after treatment = household garbage

Volume reduction of 80%

Continuous process with high productivity (can reach 300 kg per hour)

Very thin, dry and potentially recyclable ground waste

No nuisances: negligible odors, unrecognizable waste

b) ECONOMICAL

Competitive investment for its high productivity

Reduction in storage and handling costs: volume reduction, no hazardous transport

Low operational costs (no water, no steam, high shredding technology)

c) TECHNOLOGICAL

Powerful shredding technology: up to 37 kW, low speed, 4 axles, anti-blocking system

Well-adapted technology for big structures: large hospitals, hospitals conglomerates,
treatment platforms, etc.

d) SAFE

No vacuum

No pressurized vessel (no risks of explosion)

e) 100% ECOLOGICAL

No atmospheric or water pollution

f) EASY to use

Assembly in 24 hours

Needs only electricity

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 3. ECOSTERYL vs Autoclave

ECOSTERYL AUTOCLAVE

Continuous process
Batch process

High productivity: up to 300 kg per hour
Productivity (usually): by cycle of 1 hour limited to 175 kg
per hour (with shredding)

Ecological system: 0 reject
Pollution and contamination of water

Shredding technology:
Weak shredder:

a. Anti-blocking system a. High speed (risk of breaks on unshreddable
b. Power: up to 37 kW pieces)
c. 4 axles b. Power: up to 12 kW (usually)
d. Very long life, no need of maintenance, up to c. 1 or 2 axles
1500 tons d. Very short life, maintenance cost very high
e. Hydraulic pusher

No need of effluent, liquid, water, steam
Needs steam generator and rejects polluted and
contaminated water

High level of sterilization: + 6 log10 = 99,9999 %
Same level of sterilization

Pre-shredding with chemical decontamination device
Shredder pre, post or inside thermal process
(option)

Assembly in 24 hours; needs only electricity; can be easily
Huge assembly

relocated

No odors, no atmospheric pollution
Strong odour and steam

No pressurized vessel; very safe operation
Pressurized vessel; risk of explosion; needs public
authorization and specialized manpower

Output:
Output:
a. Very fine grading due to efficient screening (- a. Big grading: recognizable product
20 mm) b. Very humid due to steam and water; exit
b. Very dry: no water shredded waste full of water and very heavy
c. Product easy to recycle (separation of c. Difficult to recycle; only possibility of
various components or fuel for industrial dumping (landfill)
kilns)

Price / cost:
Price / cost:

a. Competitive investment for its high a. High investment compared to productivity
productivity b. Operational cost including water, steam and
b. Low operational cost: no water, no steam, in some cases extra shredder for
high shredding technology replacement

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4. Implantation plans

4.1. TREATMENT PLANT: 1 UNIT SERIAL 125 - ECOSTERYLPAT

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4.2. TREATMENT PLANT: 1 UNIT SERIAL 250 - ECOSTERYLPAT

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4.3. TREATMENT PLANT: 2 UNITS SERIAL 250 - ECOSTERYLPAT

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5. Approvals

5.1. APPROVAL SERIAL 125 - ECOSTERYLPAT

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5.2. TESTS AND CERTIFICATION OF THE PASTEUR INSTITUTE - SERIAL 125 - ECOSTERYLPAT

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5.3. OFFICIAL AUTHORIZATION OF THE FRENCH HEALTH MINISTRY

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