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Amalgam waste recyclingFor Professionals : Professional News and Articles : Amalgam waste recycling (The following information was originally published in the March 2001 issue of the CDS Review. The directory of amalgam waste recyclers was revised November 18, 2004). Dental amalgam waste can be recycled to help prevent the release of mercury to the environment. Dental associations, dentists, waste managers, and regulators have worked together to develop this guide about amalgam waste recycling and handling. Following these simple suggestions will help protect the environment. The concern about the effects of mercury in the environment has increased over the years. Mercury in the environment is bioaccumulative, which means it can build up in fish and cause health problems in humans and other animals that eat fish. Many state health professionals recommend limiting fish consumption, especially for children and pregnant women. Mercury is a naturally occurring metal, however, about half of the mercury released to the environment comes from human activity. Of that amount, 53% is emitted from the combustion of fuels for energy production and 34% is from the combustion of waste. Some mercury released into the air eventually collects in the waterways where it enters the food chain. Although mercury in the form of dental amalgam is very stable, amalgam should never be disposed of in the garbage or infectious waste “red bag” and it should never be rinsed down the drain. The reason for this caution is that some communities incinerate municipal garbage, medical waste and sludge from wastewater treatment plants. If amalgam waste ends up in one of these incinerated waste streams, it can volatilize at high temperatures and mercury will be released into the environment. The good news is that amalgam waste kept separate from other waste can be recycled to reduce mercury emissions. Mercury can be recovered from amalgam wastes through a distillation process and reused in new products. After extensive review, waste regulators in the Great Lakes States recommend recycling amalgam as a best management practice for dental offices. Types of amalgam wastesNon-contact amalgam (scrap): Excess mix leftover at the end of a dental procedure. Many recyclers will pay for this clean scrap. Contact amalgam: Amalgam that has been in contact with the patient. Examples are extracted teeth with amalgam restorations or amalgam captured by chair-side traps, filters, or screens. Chair-side traps: Capture amalgam waste during amalgam placement or removal procedures. (Traps from dental units dedicated strictly to hygiene may be placed in with regular garbage.) Vacuum pump filters or traps: These contain amalgam sludge and water. Some recyclers will accept whole filters. Others will require special handling of this material. Amalgam sludge: The mixture of liquid and solid material cleaned from vacuum pump filters or other amalgam capture devices. Empty amalgam capsules: The containers leftover from precapsulated dental amalgam. Steps for recycling amalgam
Best management practices for amalgam waste
Questions to ask your amalgam waste recyclerEnclosed is a list of some amalgam waste recyclers that handle amalgam waste. Appearance on this list does not constitute an endorsement. Select a recycling facility that serves your amalgam recycling needs. Notice that not all the recycling companies accept all types of amalgam waste and services can vary widely. Contact a recycler before recovering amalgam and ask about any specific handling instructions. We recommend asking amalgam waste recyclers the following questions:
Amalgam waste recycling (in alphabetical order)Amalgaway Chemical Disposal Services Inc. DRNA Waste Management Everlights Full Circle of Illinois, Ltd. Hazchem Environmental Corp. Heritage Environmental Services Maguire & Strickland Refining Inc. Safety Kleen Systems |
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