The start-up tackling New Zealand’s hazardous waste

Every year, thousands of tonnes of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most dangerous waste, including medical residues are incinerated offshore and buried in landfill. Other hazardous waste such as complex mixed contaminated plastics, industrial chemicals and so-called ‘forever chemicals’ such as PFAS are landfilled domestically. These practices are costly, heavily regulated, emissions-intensive, and offer limited options for recovery or reuse.

Nurox Hydrothermal is a New Zealand clean-tech venture that has developed a better way. With a deceptively simple input recipe – just heat, water and air – Nurox has developed a hydrothermal process that neutralises hazardous waste and transforms it into clean water, inert by-products, and even saleable outputs like acetic acid.

The science behind it is precise, using controlled high pressure and temperature to break down persistent compounds that conventional methods struggle with. Crucially, the process is free from harmful emissions and does not generate toxic residues. It’s a low-footprint, scalable solution designed for a world grappling with how to deal with the messier end of modern life.

Globally, around 5.9 million tonnes of healthcare waste are generated each year. It’s a figure that continues to grow, especially in the wake of Covid-19. In New Zealand, the healthcare sector contributes an estimated 3–8% of national carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, with waste disposal playing a significant role. Yet for many of the most harmful waste streams, there are few viable local treatment options.

Nurox aims to shift that equation. Backed by support from UniServices, the company is building momentum through key industry partnerships. It recently announced a partnership with Tennex Healthcare – owner of InterwasteGroup, the country’s leading biohazardous waste handlers – to bring its technology into real-world settings. Douglas Pharmaceuticals, New Zealand’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, has also signalled support, with CFO Kent Durbin noting the company “welcomes any new innovation that leads to better environmental outcomes.”

Behind the breakthrough is a multidisciplinary science team led by Professor Saeid Baroutian, Nurox’s Chief Scientific Officer. Alongside his academic roles at the University of Auckland (including deputy head of research for the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering), Baroutian is a long-time advocate for circular solutions to complex problems. His entrepreneurial journey includes participation in the University’s Velocity programme, supported by the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which helps researchers and students transform ideas into impact.

“We’ve moved from the lab into industrial design,’” Duncan Stewart, Nurox’s Chief Executive Officer says, “We’re designing for global applicability. Our modular units can sit close to the waste source and adapt to different industry contexts.”

Nurox’s light-capital, IP-led business model is structured for international scale, with commercialisation planned through Equipment-as-a-Service and licensing arrangements. The first onshore plant is scheduled to come online in 2026, with a second already in planning.

This vision for clean, local, circular solutions is gaining attention. At the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards, Nurox took home the coveted Excellence in Innovation award. For Nurox, it was a moment that reflected more than a decade of persistence.

“It’s a competitive category,” Baroutian said. “For us, that moment on stage represented years of research, setbacks, and some very stubborn belief that there had to be a better way to deal with complex waste.”