Dental Waste Disposal Services
Complete dental waste management including amalgam separation, sharps disposal, and dental clinical waste collection
Dental Waste Management
Dental practices generate several types of waste requiring specialist disposal including amalgam containing mercury, sharps (needles and blades), infectious waste contaminated with blood and saliva, extracted teeth, and general dental clinical waste.
All dental waste must be properly segregated and disposed of according to UK regulations to protect staff, patients, and the environment.
Dental Waste Types
- Amalgam waste containing mercury
- Dental sharps (needles, blades, burs)
- Extracted teeth with amalgam fillings
- Infectious waste (swabs, gloves, masks)
- Gypsum and impression materials
Amalgam Waste - Special Requirements
Dental amalgam contains approximately 50% mercury and is classified as hazardous waste. It must be collected separately in designated amalgam waste containers and sent for mercury recovery to prevent environmental contamination.
- Amalgam separators must be fitted to dental units
- Amalgam waste stored in rigid sealed containers
- Hazardous waste consignment notes required
- Mercury recovered and recycled where possible
FAQs - Dental Waste
Do I need an amalgam separator?
Yes, all dental practices in England must have amalgam separators fitted to dental chairs where amalgam is placed or removed. This is a legal requirement under the Hazardous Waste Regulations and EU Mercury Regulation. Separators capture amalgam particles preventing them entering wastewater.
How should extracted teeth be disposed of?
Extracted teeth with amalgam fillings must be disposed of as amalgam waste due to mercury content. Teeth without amalgam can be disposed of in yellow infectious waste bags. Some practices keep extracted teeth in amalgam waste containers as the safest option. Never dispose of teeth in general waste.
What sharps bins do dental practices need?
Dental practices typically use yellow-lidded sharps bins for needles and blades. Small 1L or 3L bins are ideal for placement near dental chairs for immediate disposal. Burs and other small sharps can use the same containers. We provide appropriate sized sharps bins as part of our service.
How often should dental waste be collected?
Most dental practices require monthly collections for infectious waste and sharps. Amalgam waste collection depends on practice size and may be monthly, quarterly, or on-demand. We can assess your needs and provide a suitable collection schedule with flexibility to adjust as required.
Do you provide staff training for dental waste?
Yes, we provide comprehensive training on dental waste segregation including identification of different waste streams, proper use of color-coded containers, amalgam handling procedures, and regulatory compliance. Training ensures your team follows best practices and CQC requirements.
What documentation do you provide?
We provide consignment notes for amalgam waste (hazardous waste), waste transfer notes for infectious waste, and certificates of destruction following incineration. All documentation is retained for the required period and available for CQC inspections and environmental audits.
Complete Dental Waste Management
Get compliant disposal of all dental waste streams including amalgam and mercury waste