Hand-held medication and electronic waste incinerator

Abstract

A hand-held, disposable incinerator for medications and electronic storage media includes a body and a lid, a layer of insulation, and a chemical burn agent, which on ignition produces both heat and oxygen to destroy the contents. Exhaust gases pass through a non-combustible filter to remove most solid particles and contaminants, followed by a second, higher-efficiency filter. Hot gases exiting from the incinerator then desirably ignite again from their own heat, consuming remaining volatile organic matter distilled from the items being destroyed. An igniter, which may be a fuse, a pull-tab-activated pyrotechnic delay or an electronically remote-triggered igniter, provides a delay for the safety of the person using the incinerator. Heat generated within the burn chamber decomposes most organic materials, melts soft metals including aluminum and electronic solder, and renders data storage devices unreadable. At least an inner portion of the device may be safely discarded.