Medical waste facility starts up in Texas

Golden, Colorado-based Strategic Environmental & Energy Resources Inc. (SEER) has announced that Paragon Waste Solutions, its majority-owned subsidiary, has commissioned its Paragon Southwest Medical Waste LLC (PSMW) medical waste destruction facility in Anahuac, Texas, in the southeast corner of the state.

SEER indicates initial loads of medical waste have been processed and the Texas facility now means medical waste can be destroyed in the United States on a large-scale, commercial basis in a manner other than traditional incineration. While the company says there are plans to open large-scale facilities in California, with PSMW indicating it already is permitted for a large facility in Southern California.

“The successful start-up and commercial runs represent an industry first and a new era for the way medical waste will be treated and destroyed globally,” says Fortunato Villamagna, CEO of Paragon and PSMW. “By leveraging our patented, low-cost, low emission, small-footprint technology, we will redefine how bypass or incinerate only medical waste will be treated in the 21st century.”

The Anahuac facility includes three CoronaLux Model L systems, each capable of destroying three tons of medical waste per day. Once the existing units are brought to capacity, additional units will be installed. The Anahuac facility can accommodate 15 systems, which could generate as much as $15 million in annual revenue.

PSMW initially purchased the CoronaLux units from SEER's Paragon division. As part of the agreement, PSMW will use cash flow from operations to purchase additional CoronaLux units over a five-year period for this and other satellite location. Paragon also will receive $200,000 per year for providing management services to PSMW and its prorated share of operating profits.

“This milestone in the medical waste industry further demonstrates the potential for real market disruption by implementing the CoronaLux technology worldwide in an industry that has not seen significant advancement in decades,” says John Combs III, CEO of SEER. “It also corroborates the significant economic benefits the CoronaLux Technology will provide to its stakeholders.”

“Since the issuance of the full operating permit by the South Coast Air Quality District in Southern California, we are particularly excited about the increased recognition and industry interest being received for CoronaLux's superior ability to destroy what is traditionally termed ‘incinerate only, or ‘bypass’ medical waste in the most efficient and environmentally conscious manner in the industry. The development of this joint venture and replacement of the traditional incineration process by the disruptive CoronaLux Technology represents a true inflection point in the on-going and strategic roll-out program by the Paragon team,” Combs adds.