MediLoop: Safe, hands-free recycling ofplastic syringes at medical waste facilities

The global healthcare system relies heavily on single-use plastic syringes, yet their disposal (typically via incineration or landfill) poses significant environmental and financial challenges. With over 16 billion injections administered annually and rising syringe use, medical waste volumes and disposal costs are expected to increase. This report presents MediLoop, a novel, automated machine developed by Stanford mechanical engineering students to enable safe and efficient recycling of plastic syringes. Designed for use in medical waste processing facilities post-autoclaving, MediLoop separates recyclable plastic from contaminated components using a fully automated sequence of alignment, computer vision-based detection, precision cutting, and material separation. The prototype achieves 85% accuracy in extracting clean plastic and can process up to 7,000 syringes in a typical workday. Stakeholder research informed a facility-focused design, targeting users already motivated to reduce waste and operating costs. Future work will enhance processing speed and drive adoption through regulatory alignment and strategic partnerships, positioning MediLoop as the first viable solution for syringe recycling at scale.