Type of Waste Lead-Foil and Lead Shield Waste
Disposal Method
PDA recommends recycling lead-foil and lead shields as scrap metal through a metal recycler. If you choose to dispose of lead waste instead of recycling, the waste will need to be tested to determine if it constitutes hazardous waste. If it is determined to be hazardous, it must be disposed as such.
Used Sharps and Other Medical Waste
Used sharps, which include needles, reamers, broaches, syringes and scalpels, must be stored in rigid, tightly lidded and puncture-resistant containers marked as biohazardous. Used sharps should be sorted and separated from other medical waste. Sharps may be stored until the storage container is full, and must be rendered unusable prior to disposal.
Sharps and other medical waste may not be disposed of at municipal landfill unless they meet certain requirements, including disinfection by a permitted processing facility. Conditionally exempt generators may transport their own medical waste to facilities permitted to accept such waste. Various technologies exist for the disinfection of medical waste by permitted facilities that ultimately allow the waste to be disposed of as municipal waste.
Dental carpules that contain residual anesthetic should be disposed of in a container properly labeled as pharmaceutical waste and transported to a medical waste incinerator.
X-Ray Developer
X-Ray developer solution may be poured down the drain to the public sewer system if it is not mixed with fixer solutions. Some municipalities will require pH testing of developer. Check with POTW to determine its requirements.
10 PDA Waste Management Guidelines