Dental amalgam contains mercury, a hazardous waste. If washed down the drain, mercury can leach into the water supply and harm the environment. Since mercury bioaccumulates, even small amounts will be concentrated through the food chain, contaminating fish and wildlife. There is also an environmental concern when dental amalgam is discarded as a biohazard. If incinerated with the biohazard waste, mercury will be released into the environment in the incinerator's air emissions. The major source of mercury in lakes and rivers is from incineration activities.

The ADA Urges Dentists to Recycle Amalgam
Collecting and sending your dental amalgam to a recycler eliminates the chance for mercury to be released into the environment. The Council On Dental Materials, Instruments And Equipment recommends in Dental Mercury Hygiene, "Item 12: Store amalgam scrap under radiofixer solution in a covered container. Recycle amalgam scrap using refiners who are properly licensed by the EPA".

The Bethlehem Apparatus Dental Amalgam Recycling Program
	Convenient Dental Amalgam Shipping Container
We offer a simple and responsible dental amalgam recycling program. We provide all shipping containers and labels for your used dental amalgam. Once filled, send the container to us and we will recycle the amalgam in accordance with all federal, state and local regulations. All recycling costs are included in the price of the container. The mercury reclaimed from the amalgam will be purified so that it can be reused. Bethlehem Apparatus provides over 50,000 lbs of mercury to dental amalgam suppliers annually. By using our service you can be assured that your waste mercury will be recycled back into dental use. Certificates of Recycling are provided upon request.

The ADA Recommends Having an Emergency Spill Kit on Hand
	Dental Mercury Spill Kit contains everything needed to properly clean up mercury spills
The Council On Dental Materials, Instruments And Equipment recommends in Dental Mercury Hygiene, "Item 14: Clean up spilled mercury properly…use commercial clean up kits…" Bethlehem Apparatus offers a convenient dental mercury spill kit. The clean up materials can subsequently be sent to us for mercury recovery/recycling. Recycling costs are included in the price of the kit.