Dental waste

Amalgam separators are required in all dental offices that use mercury-containing amalgams. Separators must be ISO 14011 certified.

Dental wastewater contains anywhere from 100 - 2,000 parts per million (ppm) of mercury. State regulations limit safe levels to 0.2 ppm or lower. Separators catch any scrap amalgam that is too fine for traps or screens before it reaches the sewer system.

Separators can remove up to 99% of the mercury in dental wastewater.

What to do with mercury from separators

Mercury from separators can be recycled.

Chair-side traps can be disposable or reusable.

• Disposable traps tend to be safer.
• Reusable traps can be difficult to remove without spilling amalgam waste into the drain or garbage.
• If your suction system can handle it, choose size 100 mesh traps over size 40. The smaller mesh is more effective at trapping amalgam particles.

What to do with waste from disposable chair-side traps

• Remove trap and place into a container labeled: CONTACT AMALGAM.
• Close the lid tightly.
• Dispose as dangerous waste or recycle.

Chair-side traps can be disposable or reusable.

• Disposable traps tend to be safer.
• Reusable traps can be difficult to remove without spilling amalgam waste into the drain or garbage.
• If your suction system can handle it, choose size 100 mesh traps over size 40. The smaller mesh is more effective at trapping amalgam particles.

What to do with waste from reusable chair-side traps

• Flush the vacuum system with disinfectant before changing the trap. Allow contents to dry.
• Open the chair-side dental unit to expose amalgam trap. Allow contents to dry.
• Remove non-amalgam particles (such as cement) with cotton forceps and put in the garbage.
• Remove amalgam by tapping the contents into a container labeled: CONTACT AMALGAM.
• If the trap is visually clean, it can be reused. If not, place the trap in the container as well.
• Close the lid tightly.
• Dispose as dangerous waste or recycle.

Extracted teeth with amalgam restorations

• Put in your CONTACT AMALGAM container.
• Never place extracted teeth with amalgam restorations in the red biohazard bag.
• Use universal precautions when handling extracted teeth (glasses, gloves, and mask).

What to do with waste from vacuum pump filters

Replace vacuum pump filters regularly as recommended by the equipment manufacturer. Use universal precautions when handling the filters.

• Remove the filter and hold it over a tray or other container to catch spills.
• Decant as much liquid as possible without losing visible amalgam.
• Put the lid on the filter.
• Place it in the box the filter was originally shipped.
• Recycle the box of filters when full. Check if your amalgam recycler will take them.

Amalgam capsules may contain small amounts of mercury even after mixing.

• Put all capsule waste, including any defective capsules, in your container with other non-contact scrap amalgam.
• Ask your amalgam recycler if they will take capsules with your scrap amalgam.

If your amalgam recycler does not accept capsules, find a waste service provider that does.

Lead is a dangerous waste. DO NOT put lead in the:

• Garbage. .
• Sharps containers.
• Red biohazard bags.

How to dispose of lead foil

Collect lead foil from x-ray packets and put it with your other dangerous waste recycling.

How to dispose of lead boxes (or lead-lined boxes)

Lead-lined boxes (x-ray storage boxes with untreated lead lining) are extremely dangerous and must be disposed of properly. DO NOT convert these boxes for other uses.

How to dispose of lead aprons

Lead aprons, once they are unusable, must be disposed as dangerous waste.

Dispose of lead properly

• Contact the original vendor to see if they will recycle the item(s) for you,
  OR
• Dispose of these items through your waste service provider.

Unused x-ray developer contains hydroquinone (waste code: WT02).

Note: If fixer and developer are accidentally mixed, the mixture must be disposed as dangerous waste.

How to dispose of unused x-ray developer

• Contact the original vendor to see if they will recycle the item(s) for you,
  OR
• Dispose of these items through your waste service provider.

X-ray fixer contains high levels of silver (waste code: D011). Consider switching to digital imaging to avoid dealing with this type of waste at all.

• Put used fixer in a container marked “Used fixer only” and keep it separate from developer.

How to dispose of used x-ray fixer

• Contact the original vendor to see if they will recycle the item(s) for you,
  OR
• Dispose of these items through your waste service provider.

Used x-ray film contains silver (waste code: D011). However, most film does not contain enough silver to make it a dangerous waste. 

How to dispose of used x-ray film

Collect it for silver recycling.

• Contact the original vendor to see if they will recycle the item(s) for you,
  OR
• Dispose of these items through your waste service provider.

Dental offices that use mercury amalgam separators and discharge wastewater to a publicly owned sewer must fill out this form.

The following dental specialties are exempt:

• Oral pathology
• Oral and maxillofacial radiology
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery
• Orthodontics
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics

The form is due within 90 days of startup.

• Download the One-Time Compliance Report for Dental Dischargers form.
• Fill it out, then make a copy.
• Sign both copies (with ink).
• Keep one signed copy on site for your permanent records.
• Mail one signed copy to:
  • Your regional Ecology office 
    c/o: Pretreatment Engineer, Water Quality Program,
    OR
  • Your municipal sewage treatment authority.

Questions? 

Contact: Maia Hoffman
Pretreatment Coordinator
maia.hoffman@ecy.wa.gov
425-507-5681