A lot of people often wonder what the proper way to dispose of x-ray films. These vital medical documents are not like standard-sized papers which companies receive in the mail, ones that can be easily shredded and incinerated. X-ray films are often large and made of thick plastic, they are also difficult to carry and, more importantly, they contain personal information. This makes xray film recycling all the more important (apart from the fact that it is illegal to just dispose these films).
The Importance of X-ray Film Recycling
The great news is that there are now various recovery companies that can help in disposing this special kind of garbage – or is it even totally trash?
One such company is the Industrial Surplus Inc. which buys the xray films from hospitals in Jersey City, NJ and clinics and gets rid of them in a safe manner. Here are several reasons why xray recycling should be taken seriously:
To recover separate materials: There are three distinct materials that can be extracted from a dental xray film or any other type of xray film. These materials are plastic, paper and precious metals such as silver.
The company performs silver recovery from x-ray film so it aids in lowering the percentage of silver scarcity and eventually, decreases the price of this precious metal.
In essence, industrial surplus inc. is a silver recycler and must be lauded for its environmental and economical contributions.
To safely and securely dispose private data: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act states that xray films must be properly disposed and destroyed.
Whether paper is used as it is or if it is used on x-ray films, it must be disposed of properly especially if it contains personal information, this is to preserve the anonymity and dignity of the patient.
Non-destructive testing or ndt film that is used mostly on industrial settings can also be recycled. Along with x-ray films that contain hazardous by-products, it's a must to have these contained by professionals in order to meet the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
It is irresponsible to just throw away x-ray films; this is why recovery companies work diligently to take the burden of this task away from you and also to keep the environment intact.
