Technical assistance for dental practices sending wastewater to the King County sewage system:

• Learn what to do with your used amalgam waste (external link).
• Download: The Dental Wastewater Discharge Permit Application and instructions.
• Learn which amalgam separators are approved by King County (PDF 52KB). Link to list of companies that sell King County approved amalgam separators (external link).
• What to do with your used x-ray fixer (external link) includes information about companies that transport dental office waste to licensed treatment, storage, disposal or recycling facilities (TSDRs).
• Download a sample equipment and waste management log (PDF 23KB).

With further questions please contact the Industrial Waste Program, see contacts, left.

Useful links for King County dentists:

In July 2008 Patricia Magnuson, an Industrial Waste Program compliance investigator, was invited to provide testimony on the Dental Waste Program and its outcome to date at a U.S. Congress Domestic Policy subcommittee hearing, Assessing State and Local Regulations to Reduce Dental and Mercury Emissions. Link to the King County news release.

The final King County Dental Project report (PDF 1.59 MB) (external link) presents data on the quantities of dental waste generated by dental offices in King County and documents the disposal methods for those wastes. It also describes the hazardous waste management improvements that were achieved through the cooperative efforts of Local Hazardous Waste Management Program (LHWMP) staff and the dental community. The report was produced by Public Health - Seattle & King County as part of LHWMP in King County, January 2005.

Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology's) Dental Office Best Management Practices (external link).

Learn more about Ecology's Mercury Chemical Action Plan, a part of the agency's Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins strategy (external link).

For information about laboratory accreditation in Washington State (Ecology) (external link).

The Environmental Protection Agency's links for Best Management Practices for Dental Offices (external link).

Naval Dental Research Institute's dental mercury environmental issues information (external link).

Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County - Information on how to properly dispose of expired, unused pharmaceuticals. Disposal to the trash and sewer are not permitted (external link).

Local Hazardous Waste Management Program (King County) Envirostars Program .
Dental practices which are in compliance with King County Industrial Waste regulations may well qualify for EnviroStars certification. EnviroStars, a service of the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program of King County, is a program that certifies businesses for their efforts in preventing pollution and reducing hazardous waste. Certified EnviroStars businesses are given a two-to-five star rating based on their commitment to reducing hazardous waste. The higher the star rating, the more proactive the business has been in protecting the environment.