Sound-attenuating enclosure for a vacuum source of a waste collection unit

There is disclosed a waste collection unit for collecting waste material through a suction line during a medical procedure, the waste collection unit comprising: a waste container configured to be in fluid communication with the suction line to collect the waste material during the medical procedure, the waste container defining a collection chamber and a vacuum port; a sound attenuating enclosure defining an enclosure inlet for receiving cooling air and an enclosure outlet for discharging warmed cooling air from the sound attenuating enclosure, wherein the sound attenuating enclosure is at least partially formed of a sound-absorbing material configured to attenuate noise, wherein the sound-absorbing material comprises a foam material; and a vacuum source disposed in the sound attenuating enclosure and in selective communication with the vacuum port of the waste container for providing a vacuum in the waste container to draw the waste material into the waste container through the suction line, wherein the vacuum source comprises a casing defining a casing inlet at a first end of the vacuum source, a casing outlet, and a fan for drawing the cooling air into the casing inlet and discharging the warmed cooling air from the casing outlet, wherein the foam material defines a pocket for receiving the casing and spaced apart from the casing inlet to define an air path therebetween for the cooling air to be drawn into the casing inlet, and wherein the foam material comprises a seat against which the casing of the vacuum source engages to provide a cooling air barrier configured to prevent the warmed cooling air from recirculating towards the casing inlet..