Best Management Practices for the Disposal of Dental Amalgam and Mercury Wastes in Ontario

Dental practices discharging to a private septic system should consult local municipality for guidance on this class of dental waste.

Amalgamated
in Office

Dental
Amalgam
Supply

Place in air tight

container and
label: Elemental
Mercury

Excess
Elemental
Mercury (Hg)
Chairside
Traps &
Screens 1
Removal by Suction:
Amalgam particles
Removal by Hand:
Amalgam filling
and Teeth with
Amalgam filling
Placement:
Amalgam filling

Encapsulated
Amalgam

Amalgam
Separator

Vacuum
Filter
Pump
Collected
Cotact Amalgam
Particles

Place in air tight

container & lable:
Contact
Amalgam 2

Collect excess
Non-Contact
Amalgam

Place in air tight

container & label:
Non-Contact
Amalgam 2

Release to
approved
waste carrier
for disposal
and/or
recycling

Broken and
Unused Capsules
Empty Amalgam
Capsules

Recycle or
dispose with
regular garbage 3

1. There are different configurations of traps, cuspidors etc. All dental amalgam particles collected by any configuration should be treated as contact amalgam.
2. Where separation between contact and non-contact amalgam is not required by the Approved Waste Carrier, all amalgam wastes may be placed in a single container labelled Scrap Amalgam.
3. Check with local municipality whether empty amalgam capsules are recyclable.
October, 2003
Environment
Canada

Environnement
Canada

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