Surá: The New Raw Material

The majority of healthcare waste worldwide is incinerated or landfilled. A substantial portion consists of single-use plastics and textiles. As new regulations push hospitals toward recycling, there is an urgent need for scalable, efficient systems to meet this demand. This study analyzes practices in Catalonia’s state hospitals and explores the potential of healthcare waste as a valuable raw material. It proposes a pioneering mechanical recycling system capable of efficiently separating and repurposing sterilized rigid plastics and light fibers. In doing so, it offers a viable, long-term solution for integrating healthcare waste into a circular economy—setting a new sustainability standard.