Dental practices produce more than just regular trash and recyclable goods. Dental waste includes standard trash plus hazardous materials like contaminated sharps, chemical agents, toxic medical waste, and more that must be disposed of following regulatory standards to protect the environment, staff, and patients. Improper disposal can have detrimental environmental effects, putting staff and patients at risk of needlestick injuries, disease exposure, and more.
As a dental office, you can mitigate these risks by effectively disposing of waste and managing it according to state regulations and compliance requirements. Below, we offer guidance on responsible medical waste handling.
What Is Dental Clinic Waste?
Dental clinic waste encompasses all types of waste and trash a dental facility produces, including hazardous, infectious, chemical, and general waste. Hazardous and biohazardous waste, potentially infectious materials, and chemical waste pose severe threats to people and the environment when not disposed of properly, while general waste should be recycled for sustainable handling.
The American Dental Association, OSHA, HIPAA, and EPA all enforce various guidelines on medical waste disposal, typically on how to handle regulated medical waste (RMW), which includes any waste containing blood, bodily fluids, or other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs). The ADA recommends following many OSHA policies, such as the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, for all regulated waste generated in medical settings. HIPAA regulations cover policies on how to dispose of items with patient information, while the EPA offers guidance on disposal in light of environmental protection and public safety.
Types of Dental Waste and Their Impacts
When you look at the facts of toxic waste in dentistry, you find that the majority of hazardous waste from dental facilities ends up in uncontrolled landfills where it can harm the public and the environment. To understand these dangers, let’s dive deeper into the different types of dental waste.
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste includes sharps, the lead foil inside X-ray film, dental amalgam fillings and amalgam waste containing mercury, and toxic chemicals. Toxic waste from dental offices can cause injuries, especially when dentists and dental assistants aren’t using the proper biohazard containers or personal protective equipment. Hazardous waste also leads to the risk of mercury pollution.
Infectious Waste
Infectious dentistry waste is anything containing a biohazard risk.
Waste may be considered biohazardous if it becomes contaminated with bodily fluids like blood. Biohazard waste might include extracted teeth, blood-soaked materials, or other potentially infectious materials. Any biohazard waste comes with a high risk of infection, so dental teams must sterilize it before disposal to ensure public health and disease control.
Chemical Waste
Chemical waste from healthcare facilities includes expired pharmaceuticals, disinfectants, and other chemical agents. Chemical waste must be disposed of properly to reduce contamination in environmental settings. Dental facilities can prevent concerns like chemical waste streams and pharmaceutical waste hazards by following the proper disposal guidelines set by the EPA.
General Waste
Paper, plastics, and other facility trash are three examples of general waste. While non-hazardous waste may not need to follow the same strict disposal protocols as medical waste, recycling is still vital. When disposing of sensitive paperwork, you must also adhere to HIPAA regulations on protected health information.
Regulations and Compliance in Dental Waste Management
As a medical facility, you must follow various regulations when handling dental waste. Here are some of the primary regulations from the governing bodies controlling waste disposal recommendations in health settings:
- The American Dental Association (ADA): The ADA recommends waste segregation based on state regulations and EPA guidelines, a sharps container for sharps waste stored separately from other medical waste, and teeth discards following OSHA guidelines. You can find more guidance by reading this ADA tip sheet.
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): OSHA guidelines cover many workplace safety standards. One of the most relevant standards your facility must follow is the Bloodborne Pathogens and Infection Control Standard, which outlines how to handle hazardous waste.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA offers medical waste resources and provides guidance on properly disposing of amalgam waste, sharps waste, and other waste to prevent waste stream risks, mercury contamination, and public health concerns.
Failure to comply with the above regulations can result in injuries, fines, severe environmental consequences, and damages to your facility’s reputation. You can maintain compliance at your facility by staying up to date with current program changes.
Best Practices for Managing Dental Office Waste
Use our best practices below combined with the resources listed above to manage your dental office waste effectively.
Proper Segregation of Waste
Proper container segregation is required for compliant dental waste management. We recommend the following tips:
- Check waste container segregation requirements from the ADA and your state to ensure compliance.
- Segregate by type, not just by hazardous versus non-hazardous. For example, you may need separate containers for amalgam waste and sharps, even though these items are both hazardous waste.
- Consider reusable containers in safe applications to prevent unnecessary waste.
- Separate universal waste, such as light bulbs, batteries, paper, plastic, etc., into the correct bins.
Safe Storage and Disposal Methods
Using the proper containers, labeling methods, and storage procedures helps prevent accidents. Here are some basic tips as you conduct dental procedures, digital imaging, and other services that produce waste at your facility:
- Ensure all sharp items go in a container that needles cannot stick through.
- Label the necessary containers with the biohazard symbol. For additional clarity, this container should have a red bag.
- Empty the sharps container frequently to reduce needlestick injuries.
- Change dental amalgam waste containers weekly using amalgam separators and suction units to prevent buildup. EPA requirements dictate that amalgam separators must meet 95% removal efficiency.
- Follow all EPA labeling and storage guidelines on regulated medical waste to ensure compliance.
Learn more about how to dispose of old dental equipment.
Dental Waste Recycling
Dental waste recycling encourages sustainability, prevents environmental harm, and reduces your practice’s environmental footprint. You can recycle many types of waste, from paper and plastics to amalgam and pharmaceutical waste. Check out our dental instrument recycling guide to learn more.
Partnering With Certified Waste Disposal Services
Dental waste management can be an enormous task, especially when you’re already focused on performing dental procedures, marketing your facility, and everything else that comes with running a practice.
You likely don’t have time to reach out to facilities in your area to find pharmaceutical waste recycling options. If you’re struggling to handle waste efficiently at your facility, consider outsourcing to a specialized waste management company. Such partners can handle all types of waste, including blood-contaminated items, pharmaceutical waste, and more, in compliant, efficient manners.
Challenges Dental Practices Face in Medical Waste Management
Dental offices face many challenges when handling waste, including the following
- High costs of proper disposal
- Poor staff compliance with protocols
- Complex regulations regarding proper handling
The Future of Managing Waste in Dental Applications
While challenges still exist, innovations and trends are emerging to streamline how we handle waste, including the following:
- New technologies for waste treatment and recycling
- Digital solutions for tracking and managing waste
- An increasing push toward zero-waste dental clinics
Moving Forward
Effective dental waste management ensures safety and environmental health. Stay informed and proactive about handling strategies, and watch our webinar to learn the top skills dental office managers should have, and how Weave’s solutions can streamline dental practice operations.
Top Skills for Dental Office Managers in 2023 – Weave Webinar
