Abstract: A sterilant for rendering non-infectious shredded medical waste operates by alkaline oxidation to break down the pathogens in the medical waste during shredding, rendering the shredded waste product sterile, granular and substantially dry. The sterilant includes an alkaline oxide, such as calcium oxide, and a buffer, such as calcium carbonate including drying agents in the buffer. The sterilant creates a highly alkaline environment, at ambient temperatures, killing all or substantially all pathogens. The effectiveness of the sterilant is not dependent on temperature.

Abstract: A continuous method for shredding waste material, particularly medical waste material, includes continuously loading the waste material into a hopper; passing the waste material into a continuously running primary shredder; initially shredding the waste material in the primary shredder; passing the initially shredded material into a continuously conveying screw conveyor wherein the initially shredded material is mixed together; conveying the mixed material into a continuously running high speed shredder for further shredding; passing the further shredded material into a turbo blender for additionally reducing the particle size of the shredded material; removing the shredded material by conveyor to a discharging area, and discharging the shredded waste material to a receptacle.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing solid waste includes a chamber for receiving the waste, which may be any contaminated or non-contaminated waste including paper, plastics, cloth, metal and hospital sharps, and a ram for forcing the waste, to which germicide may be added, into contact with a plurality of cutting heads. The cutting heads which shred, shear and cut the waste are each mounted on an elongated rotating shaft. Each cutting head includes a plurality of parallel cutting blades separated by spacers. Adjacent cutting heads mesh together so that cutting blades of one cutting head interdigitate with spacers of an adjacent cutting head. A pair of curved doors close the chamber closely adjacent the cutting heads while the waste is being cut, and are opened for releasing the cut waste. The doors include elongated parallel grooves alternately for receiving the cutting edges of the cutting blades and for receiving the spacers.