Background In hospitals, organic waste comes from various sources, including food waste, human faeces and urine. Human faeces collected at the bed of a patient presents risks of contagion, so the faeces are collected in metal pans, taken to a central collection unit and disinfected by thermal treatment. Since the used and clean bed pans are handled in the same area, there is an extra risk of contagion. Attempts to solve this risk have not yet led to positive results since the processes have been too complex. Another problem that arises in hospitals is that wastewater is contaminated by medicine residues and hormone disruptors, often contained within the faeces and urine of patients. In the Netherlands alone, some 130 hospitals discharge approximately 20% of all the medicine residues and endocrine disruptors into the sewer systems. Even though wastewater containing medicine residues and endocrine disruptors is disposed of and treated by conventional wastewater treatment plants, it is known that these substances are hardly affected by such processes. While concentrations in surface water are still relatively low, it has already been proven that fish have been affected: hermaphroditic species have been found in the river Meuse as a result of the contamination of river water with endocrine disruptors. Objectives The PHARMAFILTER project aims to demonstrate a new concept for the specific treatment of wastewater and organic waste from hospitals that is cost-effective, easy-to-operate and leads to reduced risk of human contagion and contamination of surface water. The project will develop and implement a full-scale treatment process comprising: Introduction of biodegradable plastic bed pans and other biodegradable disposables into the hospital; A collection system for organic waste, biodegradable plastics and human faeces; Milling installation for solid organic waste and biodegradable plastics; Waste-digester installation; Energy-recovery unit; Wastewater treatment installation: membrane bioreactor (MBR) and after-treatment by oxidation and absorption.The users of the PHARMAFILTER concept, including nurses and other care-giving staff, will be trained and supported to start using the new process. During the project, an expert team with members from water boards, hospitals and technological experts will closely monitor the progress, especially regarding aspects related to the environment, hygiene and public health. They will help define optimal process configuration and procedures. It is expected that implementation will result in: A 70-80% reduction of disposed organic waste; Conversion of organic waste to energy: 20 000 m3 of biogas per 100 tonnes of waste; 80% reduction of medicine residuals and endocrine disruptors in wastewater; Complete removal of viruses and bacteria; A reduction of health risks from cross contamination in a hospital environment. The project will show that the process can be applied in both new and existing hospitals and will disseminate results accordingly.