The OMPECO Converter is a sealed, fully automated system that transforms infectious and hazardous waste into inert, sterile material through friction-based thermal sterilization — no combustion, no chemicals, no atmospheric emissions.
Infectious, mixed medical & hazardous streams
Sterilization at ~151°C, sealed chamber
Dry, inert N-RDF fluff — up to 80% smaller
A fully sealed, automated process converts unsorted medical and hazardous waste into inert, sterile material — without incineration, chemicals or emissions.
Infectious, hazardous and mixed medical waste is loaded directly into the sealed chamber. No pre-sorting or manual separation required.
High-speed rotating elements mechanically shred the load while friction energy evaporates moisture, reducing volume and preparing material for sterilization.
Friction-based heat reaches approximately 151°C inside the sealed, negative-pressure chamber, achieving complete pathogen destruction — no flame, no combustion.
Dry, sterile "fluff" (N-RDF) is discharged in sealed containers. Classified as non-hazardous, it can be safely disposed or recovered as secondary fuel.
A closer look at each phase of the sealed cycle — and the mechanics that transform unsorted hazardous waste into a sterile, inert resource without combustion or chemicals.
Unsorted infectious, hazardous and mixed medical waste — including sharps, plastics, textiles, glass and organic matter — is loaded directly into the converter chamber through an automatic hopper. The chamber is then hermetically sealed and brought to negative pressure, so no aerosol, odour or pathogen can escape during processing. No manual pre-sorting or separation is required.
High-speed rotating blades shred the load into a homogeneous mass, dramatically increasing the exposed surface area. The mechanical energy of the rotor is progressively converted into heat, which evaporates the water content of the waste. The generated vapour is captured, condensed and managed within the closed loop — there is no liquid effluent and no discharge to drain.
As shredding continues, friction between the rotating elements and the material raises the temperature of the whole batch to approximately 151°C. This heat is held for a controlled dwell time, achieving complete pathogen destruction — Log 6 microbial inactivation (STAATT Level IV equivalent). Sterilization is delivered purely by mechanical friction: there is no flame, no combustion and no chemical additive at any point.
Once the sterilization dwell is complete, the batch is cooled and the converter discharges a dry, sterile, inert "fluff" (N-RDF) into sealed containers. The output has up to ~80% less volume than the original waste and is reclassified as non-hazardous — ready for safe disposal or recovery as a secondary solid fuel.
Throughout every phase an integrated PLC continuously monitors temperature, pressure, rotor load and cycle status, automatically enforcing each set-point. Every cycle is logged for full traceability and regulatory documentation, and the process runs autonomously with minimal operator intervention.
The OMPECO Converter replaces the burner of an incinerator with a robust mechanical drivetrain. Four key subsystems work together to shred, dry, sterilize and discharge the waste in one continuous, sealed cycle.
Hardened rotating blades shred the load and, through friction, convert motor energy directly into the heat used for sterilization.
A hermetically sealed vessel held under negative pressure contains all vapour, aerosols and pathogens for the entire cycle.
Evaporated moisture is captured and condensed inside a closed loop — no chimney, no flue gas and no liquid discharge.
A programmable controller governs every set-point, records each cycle and enables safe, near-autonomous operation.
OMPECO does not simply dispose of waste — it re-enters material into the value chain, turning a costly liability into a recoverable resource.
Conventional waste treatment follows a linear path: generate, treat, dispose. The OMPECO Converter breaks that line into a loop — recovering volume, energy and material value at every turn.
Each stage feeds the next, minimising landfill dependency and reintroducing sterile output as secondary raw material or fuel.
Healthcare, industrial and municipal facilities produce hazardous and infectious waste.
The OMPECO Converter sterilizes and reduces waste at the point of generation.
Sterile N-RDF output is recovered as secondary fuel or safe raw material.
Recovered material re-enters the economy, closing the circular loop.
Representative operating parameters of the OMPECO Converter platform. Exact figures depend on the selected model and configuration.
Friction sterilization temperature
Per-cycle capacity across the range
Typical cycle time, load to discharge
Microbial inactivation level
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Treatment principle | Mechanical shredding + friction-based thermal sterilization |
| Sterilization temperature | Approx. 151°C (friction-generated) |
| Chamber environment | Sealed, negative-pressure, PLC-controlled |
| Accepted input | Infectious, hazardous & mixed medical waste; sharps, plastics, textiles, glass, organics — no pre-sorting |
| Per-cycle capacity | 100–2000 kg depending on model (H / Municipal / NV series) |
| Typical cycle time | Under 60 minutes, load to sterile discharge |
| Output (product) | Dry, sterile, inert "fluff" (N-RDF) — classified non-hazardous |
| Volume reduction | Up to ~80% |
| Microbial inactivation | Log 6 (STAATT Level IV equivalent) |
| Footprint & dimensions | Compact, skid-mounted or containerized; footprint scales with model class |
| Power supply | Three-phase electrical drive — no fuel, gas or burner (sterilization heat generated mechanically by friction) |
| Energy consumption | Electrically powered; per-cycle consumption scales with model class and load — no combustion fuel required |
| Atmospheric emissions | None — no chimney, flue gas or smoke |
| Chemical / water discharge | None — no chemical additives or liquid effluent |
| Control & monitoring | Integrated PLC with real-time temperature, pressure & cycle logging |
| Installation | On-site / decentralized; skid-mounted & containerized options |
| Operation | Fully automated cycle, minimal operator intervention |
A fundamentally cleaner approach to waste treatment that eliminates the environmental drawbacks of incineration and landfill.
By replacing incineration with mechanical friction, the process cuts carbon emissions dramatically and helps facilities meet decarbonization targets.
No chimney, flue gas or smoke. The sealed system produces no atmospheric discharge, removing air-quality concerns and emission permitting.
Dramatic volume reduction shrinks transport frequency, landfill dependency and the logistics footprint of hazardous waste handling.
Sterilization relies purely on friction-generated heat — no disinfectants, reagents or additives enter the process or the waste stream.
Sterile N-RDF output can be recovered as secondary fuel, feeding the circular economy instead of ending as inert waste.
Treating waste at the point of generation eliminates transport of infectious material, reducing exposure risk for staff and the community.
Book a personalized demonstration with our engineering team. We'll walk you through the conversion cycle, review your waste profile and identify the right model for your facility.
Thank you. Our team will reach out within one business day to schedule your OMPECO Converter demonstration.
The Converter platform scales across healthcare, municipal and naval / remote deployment scenarios.
For hospitals and healthcare facilities. Compact footprint for on-site deployment, 100–500 kg/cycle capacity.
Learn MoreHigher-throughput systems for centralized waste facilities, municipalities and large-scale industrial operations.
Learn MoreCompact, ruggedized systems for naval vessels, offshore platforms, military bases and remote locations.
Learn More