Earl Yerby was watching a television newscast and saw a report about how quickly germs and bacteria grow inside reusable shopping bags, according to a story in The Raleigh News And Observer.
He thought someone ought to come up with a way to sanitize those bags.
So he did.
After doing online research, Yerby, 56, found that there were few methods available for sanitizing reusable shopping bags. But he learned that other industries such as air-conditioning and heating system manufacturers used ultraviolet light for sanitation.
So Yerby invented HealthGuard UVC, a UV light system that can sanitize up to four shopping bags in about 30 seconds.
He said tests results on the bags showed that the system kills 300 types of bacteria.
“Nothing is 100 percent sterile,” Yerby said. “But it can be between 93 and 98 percent bacteria-free. … In order to kill the amount of bacteria and different types this machine does, you have to get up to pressure-cooker type temperature.”
Photo by HealthGuard UVC.