Should X-ray film be disposed of properly? Or can it be thrown away?

Apart from the fact that traditional X-rays contain sensitive patient information, and therefore should not be thrown into regular trash bins. In addition, in many states, discarding old X-rays into the regular waste stream is illegal, as they contain heavy metals, plastic, and other materials that might lead to significant environmental pollution.

The Lack of the public's Consciousness when it comes to X-ray film disposition.

We get a many phone calls and emails from customers with a small amount of film

We always ask for the weight because we have seen people like that who have more X-ray films than a small chiropractor. However, in most cases, we understand they only have a few lbs of scrap X-ray film, which will not be cost-effective for us or any other recycling company to pick up. We always give everyone the option to actually mail us the x-ray film for recycling, most people do understand, but some people say well its not worth the stamp, I will just put it in the trash. Many people care and spend a few bucks to do the right thing with the X-rays and recycle it.

x-rays in trash

Of course, everyone has the right to do what they feel is correct, but as part of our mission to raise public awareness , we must tell everybody it's wrong. Therefore, proper disposal is not just a matter of compliance but one of ethical and ecological concerns.

The ideal solution is to recycle the X-rays, which means recovering and reusing both the PET plastic and the silver. This will also ensure proper data destruction on the X-rays.

What is x-ray film made of?

An X-ray film looks like clear paper or plastic, but it's not just that. The main ingredient is PET plastic. Most people do not know that the film is coated with the rare earth mineral silver, which is the actual precious metal. So, if you throw the film in the trash, you will also throw PET plastic and silver in the trash.
Here is a link to Wikipedia for more information on how X-ray film is made:wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray

How harmful can one or two X-rays be?

Of course, that one X-ray film has a very minimal amount of silver. It might not even be valuable, but have you ever considered what happens to the stuff we put in the trash? Most of us think that once something is garbage trash, it's dead, and we forget about it, but it's not. It's not something we see anymore, but it does not mean it does not exist.

Our trash goes to the main landfill, where it is spilled after the aluminum cans and other items are picked up. The rest of the trash is usually covered with sand to prevent odor, so the X-ray plastic and silver stay there. Polymers and plastics in landfills remain unchanged, or they may degrade via some biotic or abiotic process into fragments that either remain as produced or biodegrade to gaseous products and water, once this process happens not only the plastic goes down to our drinking water, the silver goes there as well.

What is the best way to dispose of the film properly

Find a reputable recycler who specializes in handling X-ray film in both aspects, compliance with HIPAA guidelines, and compliance with environmental regulations.

Does B.W. Recycling, Inc. provide that service?

B.W. Recycling, Inc. has specialized in X-ray film recycling for almost two decades.
The company is licensed, insured, and follows HIPAA guidelines. It is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and follows the required environmental regulations to ensure a safe and clean ecosystem.
We offer a free pick-up for X-rays for recycling quantities over 50 lbs anywhere in the US with just a one-day notice. We also pay for the silver we recover from the X-ray film and provide a HIPAA compliance certificate of destruction.

Can small quantities of X-ray film be recycled?

There are two ways to dispose of small amounts of X-rays:Option one - You can mail your film to us for recycling. There is no charge for us to accept and recycle your film.
Ship to address:
B.W. Recycling, Inc.
1190 Explorer St.
Duncanville, TX 75137
Please mention "X-ray films for recycling.", you do not need to include any other information on the package.

Option two - If you have less than the required amount for a free pick-up, we can pick it up for a small fee.Click here to find the fee amount in your area

Licensed and certified silver recyclers.
EPA ID #: FLD984167080