Waste » Business » X-Ray » X-Ray Fixer
Used fixer contains as much as 3,000 to 8,000 ppm of silver. State silver discharge limits are 5 ppm and local limits can be as low as 0.1 ppm. To dispose of used x-ray fixer properly:
- Collect used fixer in a container marked "Used fixer only." Be sure to keep developer separate from your fixer.
- Dispose of used fixer as dangerous waste and keep the disposal receipts.
- Consider switching to digital and avoid generating waste fixer all together!
Although some dentists use silver recovery systems to remove silver from x-ray waste, the Department of Ecology does not recommend this practice due to high costs and maintenance requirements, which are usually neglected. Most dentists find it cheaper and easier to simply collect used fixer for disposal or recycling. Click "Find Vendors" to find service providers. To learn more about used x-ray fixer, consult the Department of Ecology's "Best Management Practices" for dentists.
Consider switching to digital and avoid generating waste fixer all together!
It is illegal to dispose of used fixer to sewer unless you are sure it meets state AND local silver discharge limits. To learn more, consult the Department of Ecology's "Best Management Practices."
Department of Ecology's "Best Management Practices"
