With amalgam separation requirements now in place, everyone should be familiar with the recycling and disposal of amalgam, here are some do's and don'ts. We are sharing a few reminders on the proper ways to dispose and handle various amalgam collection devices.
Amalgam Do's and Don'ts Highlights
DO wear personal protective equipment. This includes items such as utility gloves, masks and protective eyewear when handling amalgam.
When disposing of amalgam, do NOT use evacuation line cleaners that contain bleach or chlorine. These chemicals maximizes amalgam dissolution and contaminates waste water.
Although amalgam is considered a hazardous waste, do NOT dispose of it any other way than through a recycler who complies with the ADA-ANSI standard. Amalgam capture done through a chair-side trap, vacuum pump filter and an amalgam separator collects amalgam particles.
Contact Amalgam: has been in contact with the patient, such as teeth with amalgam, a carving scrap collected at chair-side, and amalgam captured by chair-side traps, filters, or screens/debris baskets.
Non-contact Amalgam: excess material leftover at the end of a dental procedure and considered scrap.
Amalgam Recycling:
All chair-side solid collection traps, vacuum pump filters, and amalgam separators that retain amalgam DO need recycling. These items cannot be rinsed out over drains or sinks and they cannot be reused. Do NOT place inbiohazard containers,infectious waste containers (red bags) or regular garbage.
Chair-side Collection Canisters
Remove the trap and empty the contents into a wide mouthed, airtight container marked “Contact Amalgam Waste for Recycling.”
DO seal the container well and send to a recycler when full.
Replace the trap into the collection canister, but do NOT rinse the trap, because this could introduce dental amalgam into the waste water stream.
Extracted Teeth With Amalgam Restorations
DO recycle in the same container as the collection canisters, depending on your recyclers specifications.
Teeth without amalgams (hazardous waste) and need proper disposal.
Vacuum Pump Filters
DO remove filter and have a tightly sealed lid on the container.
These too are sent to a recycler when the container fills up.
Amalgam Separators (ISO 11143 Compatible)
DO recycle properly following the manufacturer’s recommendations for maintenance and recycling procedures.
Many dentists have implement or improved their handling of amalgam since the implement new regulations. No matter what kind of amalgam you are disposing of, dispose of amalgam properly without fear of office contamination. What kind of questions do you have about amalgam recycling?
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