There are many different laws and regulations that need to be considered when thinking about dental waste management. Each state can be different so be sure to research your states laws and rules. When you work in a dental practice there are three main wastes that you should concern yourself with including mercury, silver, and general trash.
When you begin to learn about the impacts of the materials that your office uses on the environment you can certainly realize how important this all is. Also keeping in mind specific regulations and learning new ways of making things more environmentally conscious can help. There are many simple suggestions that can put you on a path to a green office.
One of the most dangerous wastes in a dental office is the dental amalgam which is the material used to make compounds stick. This compound actually has mercury present in it. Only a few dental practices can afford the environmentally conscious mercury free alternatives as they are much more expensive.
Legally it is still okay to dump these wastes into normal water systems. For some dental practices who want to be at the head of the green movement for dental waste management there are some other options. For instance you could save up the materials and dispose of them at a chemical waste facility or you could stop using them all together.
When it come to other waste materials commonly seen in dental practices, x-ray wastes are one of the most concerning. These materials have high silver content which makes them hazardous. Obviously since x-rays are needed and there are no other alternatives these are a must in dental practices.
To be more green a dentist could recommend only getting x-rays when need. Also the dentist could reclaim the silver with a special machine and this can actually make a profit since it is a small investment for the products. The best thing to do with x-ray waste is to find a way to recycle them so they can be used again.
The last type of waste that you will see in a dentist office is garbage and general office waste. Since strong chemicals are used in the cleaning and sterilization process they should not be disposed of down the drain for fear of fire hazards. Keep in mind that the majority of your garbage could probably be recycled.
Nearly all office wastes in a dental facility are recyclable like paper, plastic, glass, aluminum and even silver. Remember not to dump the chemical cleaners. Plus focus on having as little environmental impact as possible by purchasing recycled products for the office as well.
Implementing a plan to make your dental facility more environmentally friendly and conscious is definitely possible. The recycling movement has made consumers more aware of what materials are recyclable which can help cut down on waste in your facility. Plus with recycling you are encouraging new use for your old and discarded goods.
For many years there has been a lot of media coverage and exposure for the poor dental waste management programs that were in place. Today you can make a difference by making sure that all of the chemicals used in the practice are disposed of properly. Further you can also turn nearly all of your trash into something new through local recycling programs and services.
dental waste management
Looking to find the single source of helpful information on dental waste management?