Dangerous Dental Waste and You

In dentistry, there’s a lot of waste that needs to be dealt with. Things like biohazards, amalgam waste, and other hazardous wastes need to be disposed of properly. Today we’re going to look at what waste accumulates in a dentist’s office and how to handle it.

A dental professional holding dental amalgam

The Environment Protection Act of 1990

To fully understand what waste needs to be gotten rid of, one must first understand the laws in place surrounding waste. The Environment Protection Act of 1990 states that it is “unlawful to deposit, recover, or dispose of controlled (including clinical) waste without a waste management license, or in a way that causes pollution of the environment or harm to human health.”

All clinical waste handling and disposal must comply with several different regulations, but having professionals do on your biomedical waste removal in Maryland will help you dispose of the clinical waste your office has the proper way.

Biohazards

By definition, biohazards are anything that are risks to “human health or the environment arising from biological work, especially with microorganisms.” This would include things like needles, or anything that you feel puts others or the environment in danger. These types of items should always be held in a separate container that labeled as “Hazardous Waste,” as to warn everyone that it hold harmful contents.

Mercury

Mercury is used to do a number of things, but for dentists it’s mostly used in dental amalgam, or tooth fillings. Mercury is toxic and it poses a threat to a number of people. To dispose of this mercury properly, it’s imperative to get the right tools to keep the mercury away from patients and employees. This would mean getting containers with mercury suppressants that make sure the surrounding people and environment aren’t in harms way.

Amalgam Waste

Amalgam waste is a hazard because of the mercury in the amalgam. This kind of waste should be put in a special dental container with mercury suppressants to keep everyone and the environment safe. In addition to this special dental container, there should also be an amalgam separator installed in every dental practice that captures any amalgam particles in the waste water. This ensures that no dangerous mercury particles get away.

So How Do I Get Rid of My Dangerous Dental Waste?

The best thing to do to properly dispose of dangerous dental waste is to get the professionals to do it. Broadview Waste Services is here to help you with your biomedical waste removal in Maryland. Contact us today to learn more.