Blog | Sterimelt.co.uk

Welcome to the Sterimelt Blog

Here at Sterimelt Technologies, we’re all about reshaping the future of recycling, one innovative machine at a time. Our blog is where we share the latest updates on sustainable practices, the future of plastic waste management, and exciting developments in green technology. From behind-the-scenes stories to industry insights and eco-friendly tips, our goal is to keep you informed and inspired as we work together toward a cleaner, greener planet.

Dive in and join us on this journey toward a more sustainable future!

Why Hospitals Must Rethink Incinerating Medical Waste

Incineration has one of the highest carbon footprints, releasing about 1,074 kg CO₂ per tonne of medical waste. Beyond carbon, it emits dioxins, furans, and heavy metals, which persist in ecosystems and harm health. The NHS generates 156,000 tonnes of clinical waste annually, much of which is still incinerated. Alternatives such as autoclaving, onsite plastic recycling, and composting cut both emissions and disposal costs. Moving toward a medical waste circular economy helps

6 days ago5 min read

Illustration showing fast food packaging at an airport or train station being sorted and recycled, with Sterimelt-style systems processing cups, trays, and wrappers into reusable materials to reduce landfill waste.

How Is Fast Food Packaging Managed at Airports and Stations?

At transport hubs, millions of fast food packages are discarded daily. This blog explores how airports and train stations are using recycling systems, AI sorting, and Sterimelt thermal recycling to turn food packaging waste into reusable resources instead of landfill.

Oct 196 min read

Illustration showing landfill waste on the left transitioning to recycling and reuse on the right, with materials like concrete blocks, pallets, and compost beneath a centered title 'How Can Waste Be Reused Instead of Landfilled?' representing waste reduction and sustainability.

How Do We Reuse Waste Instead of Sending It to Landfill?

Discover how waste can be reused instead of landfilled through recycling, composting, and innovative technologies like Sterimelt’s thermal recycling system, turning plastic waste into valuable reusable materials.

Oct 195 min read

Hero image showing industrial and hospital facilities using recycling and waste-reduction technologies such as compactors, AI sorting systems, and Sterimelt plastic recycling machines to reduce landfill costs

What Technologies Help Businesses Reduce Landfill Costs?

Large facilities face rising landfill costs due to higher tipping fees, bulky waste, and contamination risks. This blog explores five key technologies waste compaction, mechanical-biological treatment (MBT), waste-to-energy, AI-assisted sorting, and Sterimelt’s onsite thermal recycling that help reduce costs, shrink waste volume, and improve sustainability

Oct 195 min read

How Can plastic waste be turned into wood-like materials?

Key Takeaway Plastic waste can be transformed into durable wood-like materials through wood–plastic composites (WPCs) and plastic lumber....

Sep 214 min read

Hospital Plastic Waste Recycling: How Sterimelt Turns Blue Wrap into Reusable Products

Key Takeaways Hospitals generate large volumes of single-use polypropylene wrap that usually ends up in landfill or incineration. Sterimelt melts and sanitises this wrap onsite, compressing it into dense, reusable polypropylene blocks. These blocks can be reprocessed via injection moulding or extrusion to create products like trays, packaging, and plastic wood. Plastic wood made from Sterimelt polypropylene is durable, pest-resistant, and reduces reliance on timber. Blending

Sep 215 min read

What Recycling Solutions Work Best for Africa?

Africa’s plastic waste crisis is growing—but so are the solutions. This blog explores how low-cost recycling technologies like plastic-to-wood systems are transforming waste into opportunity. Discover how innovation, affordability, and local entrepreneurship are powering sustainable growth across the continent.

Sep 66 min read

Why can’t most plastic be recycled?

Only 9% of plastic is ever recycled. Contaminated and complex plastics like hospital blue wrap are often burned or dumped. This blog explores how advanced recycling and circular models can recover value from what’s currently wasted.

Sep 63 min read

How Plastic-to-Wood Recycling Can Drive Sustainable Growth in Africa

Africa is facing a mounting plastic waste crisis. As urban populations grow and consumer goods become more accessible, plastic packaging and single-use plastics are becoming increasingly prevalent in the market. Yet waste management systems in many cities remain underdeveloped. For example, in coastal West Africa, studies show that over 80% of plastic waste is mismanaged — meaning it is dumped, burned, or leaked into waterways — while only about 10% is recycled according to t

Sep 66 min read

How do businesses lose money on waste disposal?

From hidden landfill charges to wasted recyclables, waste disposal costs businesses more than they think. This blog breaks down the profit leaks and shows how smarter recycling solutions can turn waste into a resource.

Sep 65 min read

Circular economy diagram showing the flow from natural resources to manufacturing, consumption, use, and recycling, highlighting how waste is reintroduced into production

What Is Hospital Blue Wrap Recycling and How Does Sterimelt Make It Possible?

Hospitals generate tonnes of blue wrap waste every year—most of it incinerated or landfilled. But with Sterimelt, this medical plastic can be safely recycled on-site into valuable raw material. Discover how healthcare is closing the loop, cutting costs, and leading the charge in circular sustainability.

Sep 66 min read

Trash to Cash: How Recycling Tech Turns Waste into Raw Material for the Circular Economy

Waste is no longer just something to throw away. In a circular economy, it becomes a valuable raw material that can be transformed into new products, lowering costs and reducing environmental harm. Technologies like Sterimelt show how healthcare plastics and industrial by-products can be recycled into strong, reusable resources, proving that waste is the new raw material for a sustainable future. You may find this interesting, we wrote a blog on why most traditional recyclin

Sep 65 min read

How a Dive in the Aegean Sea Sparked a Lifelong Commitment to Plastic Waste Solutions.

What if? Or the Evolution of an Invention

Nov 8, 20242 min read