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🇧🇪 Belgium /Health & Science

Denderstreek Hospitals Collect Nearly a Ton of Diabetes Sensors for Reuse

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Hospitals in Belgium's Denderstreek region have collected nearly a ton of used diabetes sensors for reuse in less than a year.
  • This initiative, part of a Flemish recycling project, has seen AZORG group hospitals collect the highest amount among 18 participating hospitals.
  • A specialized company disassembles the sensors, processing their components into new raw materials, diverting medical waste from landfills.

Hospitals within the AZORG group in Belgium's Denderstreek region have achieved a remarkable feat, collecting 944 kilograms of used diabetes sensors in under a year. This collection rate is the highest among the 18 hospitals participating in a Flemish recycling project aimed at giving medical waste a second life.

It's about medical waste that would otherwise simply end up with the residual waste.

— AZORGHighlighting the environmental benefit of the recycling initiative.

Diabetes patients typically replace these coin-sized sensors, which monitor glucose levels, every two weeks. Previously, these used sensors were discarded as general waste. Endocrinologist Maarten De Vis of AZORG explained that patients can easily replace the sensors themselves, and the old ones were simply thrown away, along with their embedded technology. Now, patients can deposit their used sensors in designated containers during hospital consultations.

A diabetes patient needs to replace a glucose sensor about once every 2 weeks. That device can constantly monitor sugar levels. It's a small white sensor, about the size of a 2 euro coin.

— Maarten De VisExplaining the function and size of the diabetes sensors.

A specialized company, Nektari, handles the disassembly and processing of the collected sensors. They separate the plastic components, circuit boards, batteries, and applicators, aiming to give them a new purpose. Nektari produces granulate, a raw material that can be reintroduced to the market. According to Nektari, approximately 99 percent of the sensor can be recycled.

Patients can leave their used sensors here during a consultation at the hospital.

— Maarten De VisDescribing the simple process for patients to contribute to the recycling effort.

The sensor manufacturer, Abbott, supports the project by providing special collection bags. Nektari hopes to eventually supply the recycled raw materials back to Abbott, completing the circular economy loop. This successful diabetes sensor project is also inspiring Nektari to explore recycling other types of medical waste, which often face stricter regulations than standard waste streams.

We make granulate, for example, which is a raw material that we can offer back to the market.

— Bruno de MaeyerDetailing the output of the recycling process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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