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Online Services Regional Offices Report Pollution Dental Amalgam/Mercury Recycling


### Introduction Regulations & program requirements Compliance certification forms and deadlines Amalgam separators Managing & recycling amalgam & mercury wastes Record-keeping requirements For more information

Introduction

Amalgam waste from dental practices and clinics is a significant source of m e to the environment when it is thrown into the trash or washed down a drain. of Massachusetts study of several commercially available amalgam separato r confirmed that they effectively remove most mercury from dental wastewat e The Massachusetts Department of Envi ronmental Protection (MassDEP) is w o reductions of mercury releases to the environment from dental practices and two phases:

z First, the agency implemented a voluntary program with the Massach Society (MDS) to encourage early installation and use of amalgam se p dentists.

z Second, MassDEP issued regulations that require mo st dental practic e in Massachusetts to install and op erate amalgam sepa rator systems, r mercury-containing amalgam wastes, and periodically certify their co m these requirements.

The regulations , which took effect on April 24, 2006, were developed with a s a stakeholder workgroup in cluding individual dentists , MDS representatives, authorities, and envi ronmental groups. Back to Dental Amalgam/Mercury Recycling index

Regulations & Program Requirements

310 CMR 73.00: Amalgam Wastwater & Recycling Regulations for Dental Fa c Web page 

## Pa g e 1 of 5 Mass DEP :: MA DEP: Dental Amal g am Mercur y Rec y clin g

10/5/2007 htt p ://www.mass. g ov/de p /service/dentists.htmNote: These regulations apply to all dental practices and facilities located in Mass Those that do not generate or discharge wastewater from amalgam-related proce dentistry is limited to oral and maxillofa cial, orthodontic, periodontic, and/or oral m practices), use only mercury-free filling material, or do not place or remove mercu not required to install amalgam separators, but need to file one-time certifications exempt status. The Dental Amalgam /Mercury Recycling certificat ion program requires dental facilities to certify to MassDEP every five years that they:

z Have installed an amalgam separator system that serves every dental practice or facility where waste am algam is generated. The system m u has been demonstrated to remove at least 98 percent of the amalga m containing mercury (using the ISO 11143 protocol or an equivalent m e acceptable to MassDEP).

z Maintain and operate the amalgam separator system according to ma n specifications.

z Use only non-corrosive and biodegradable cleaners to clean vacuum s y

z Recycle all amalgam waste containing mercury.

z Ensure that facility staff are inform ed about procedures for handling w amalgam, and that at least one empl oyee is familiar with procedures f and maintaining the installed amalgam separator system.

z Keep records to document that the prog ram requirements are being m A Note About Amalgam Separators Inst alled by Voluntary Program Participan While the voluntary program required that amalgam separators be demonstrated t percent efficiency in removing waste amalgam from wastewater, the regulations r e amalgam separators meet a 98 percent remo val efficiency standard. Facilities tha the voluntary program are allowed to cont inue using their 95 percent efficient am a separators, as long as the equipment conti nues to achieve this removal efficiency maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions. When separators need t units that meet the 98 percent remova l efficiency standard must be installed. Back to Dental Amalgam/Mercury Recycling index

Compliance Certification Forms & Deadlines

Compliance Certification Forms: File Online or by Mail Web page Deadline for Certification Filing

z Massachusetts dental practices that did not participate in the volunta r must install and use amalgam sepa rators, recycle amalgam waste co n mercury, and file their in itial certifications by June 22, 2006

.

z Dental practices and facilities that are exempt from the regulation m u time certifications to estab lish their exempt status by June 22, 2006

.

z New dental practices and those that expand beyond the capacity of t h amalgam separator(s) must install new amalgam separator equipme n new facilities start operating, and must file initial certifications with M 60 days of startup

.

z Dental facilities that joined the vo luntary program during its first yea r 

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10/5/2007 htt p ://www.mass. g ov/de p /service/dentists.htmJanuary 31, 2004, and February 28, 2005) must file their first requir e by June 15, 2010

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z Dental facilities that joined the vo luntary program during its second y March 1, 2005, and April 21, 2006) must file their first required certif i June 15, 2007

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z After initial certific ations are filed with MassD EP, follow-up certificatio n every five years ( by June 15 of the year they are due ). Back to Dental Amalgam/Mercury Recycling index
Amalgam Separators

List of Amalgam Separator Technologies Approved for Use in Massachusetts Web page Amalgam separators remove particles of amalgam from wastewater that pas your facility's vacuum system, vacuum line filters and screen s, and/or chair- s before the wastewater is discharged to a sewer.

z Amalgam separators must be demons trated to remove at least 98 pe r waste amalgam in wastewater. Thes e demonstrations are usually con professional laboratories at the re quest of the separator manufacture r specific protocol developed by the International Organization for Stan (ISO protocol 11143).

z Facilities that participated in th e voluntary program are allowed to co n their 95 percent efficient amalgam separators, as long as the equipm e to achieve this removal efficiency and is maintained in accordance wi t manufacturer instructions. When sepa rators need to be replaced, uni t the 98 percent removal efficiency standard must be installed.

z The separator must serve all wastew ater that contains waste amalga m wastewater from chairs and cuspidor s), and needs to be sized to acc o facility's maximum amalgam wastewater flow.

z The separator must be installed, op erated, and maintained according manufacturer's instructions.

z At least one employee must be fam iliar with the procedures for opera maintaining your amalgam separator system. In addition, all staff me handle waste amalgam must be in formed about these procedures. Cleaning & Disinfecting Vacuum Lines & Drains

z Use only disinfectants and cleaning agents that are biodegradable, n o (pH between 6.5 and 9.0) and non-ox idizing in your facility's vacuum other drains that are connected to amalgam separator equipment.

z Bleach is not an acceptable disinf ectant, since it mobilizes the mercu r separator and prevents the separator from capturing waste amalgam

.

z Follow manufacturer instructions on appropriate disinfectants, cleanin maintenance procedures. Back to Dental Amalgam/Mercury Recycling index
Managing & Recycling Am algam & Mercury Wastes 

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10/5/2007 htt p ://www.mass. g ov/de p /service/dentists.htmList of Companies That Provide Am algam Mercury Recycling Services Web page

Recommended Practices for Hand ling Amalgam & Mercury Wastes Web page All amalgam waste generated at dental pr actices and facilitie s must be sent t that reclaim mercury from the amalgam waste material. This is a form of re c illegal to throw amalgam waste into the tr ash (i.e., to treat it as solid waste) amalgam with medical or "red bag" waste. There are two types of amalgam wastes:

z CONTACT AMALGAM has been used on patients and generally inc extracted teeth, scrap amalgam from removed fillings, chair-side tra p and sludge from vacuum pump filt ers, amalgam separators, and othe capture waste amalgam.

z NON-CONTACT AMALGAM has never been used on patients and includes broken and unusable am algam capsules, excess amalgam, a n capsules from restorative treatments. All amalgam wastes should be stored safely in air- tight containers with secu r enough has been collected for shipment to a reclamation facility or recycler. recommended practices for handling amalgam wastes. To recycle amalgam waste, you may send it directly to a recycling facility th a a Class A Hazardous Waste Recycling Permit from MassDEP, or a recycling fa in another state that is authorized by that state to reclaim mercury. You ma y licensed hazardous waste facility or a co nsolidation facility, which will in turn amalgam waste to a reclamation facility. A common carrier (such as the U.S. Post al Service, United Parcel Service, Fe or other shipping service) may be us ed to transport amalgam waste. You ar e to use a licensed hazardous waste tran sporter. Some amalgam separator ve n shipping services as part of a standa rd maintenance agreement. Your recla m and/or shipping service can assist you with necessary record-keeping , packa labeling. Back to Dental Amalgam/Mercury Recycling index

Record-Keeping Requirements

Dental practices and facilities need to keep on-site records to demonstrate t h with the Amalgam Wastewater & Recycling Regulations for Dental Facilities ( 73.00). Records must be kept for at leas t five years, coinciding with the peri o the certification. Th ese records include:

z Maintenance and service records fo r the amalgam separator(s), to de manufacturer instructio ns are being followed.

z Shipping records indicating that amalgam waste has been transporte d facility that is approved to accept it. In Massachusetts, the facility ne e Hazardous Waste Recycling Permit

.

z Any other information that the facility has relied on to complete its c e required by 310 CMR 70.00 and 310 CMR 73.00

. 

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10/5/2007 htt p ://www.mass. g ov/de p /service/dentists.htmBack to Dental Amalgam/Mercury Recycling index

For More Information

eDEP Online Filing of Certifications Contact Steve White: 617-574-6888 or steve.white@state.ma.us Hazardous Waste Disposal/ Recycling Requirements Web page or call the Business Compliance Assistance Hotline: 617-292-5898 Wastewater Treatment & Amalgam Co llection/Recycling Requirements Contact John Reinhardt: 617-292-5667 or john.reinhardt@state.ma.us
Mercury Pollution, its Health Effects, and What Massachusetts is Doing Web page Or call the MassDEP Mercury Hotline: 1-866-9MERCURY (1-866-963-7287) Massachusetts Dental Society 508-480-9797 or 800-342-8747

Naval Dental Research Institute Web site Northeast Waste Management Officials Association Web site Back to Dental Amalgam/Mercury Recycling index

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