https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/Dental waste disposal across the UK: amalgam, sharps, infectious and offensive waste, X-ray chemicals and old stock, collected with the right paperwork every time.en-gbhttps://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/switching-to-digital-x-ray-waste-disposal/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/switching-to-digital-x-ray-waste-disposal/When a dental practice switches from wet film to digital X-ray, leftover fixer and developer, including unopened concentrate, must be collected as hazardous waste with a consignment note, never poured down the drain. Lead foils go for metal recycling, unused film is collected separately, and old processors and X-ray units are handled as waste electrical equipment, often in a single clear-out collection.How-toFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/closing-a-dental-practice-waste-checklist/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/closing-a-dental-practice-waste-checklist/When a dental practice closes, moves or is sold, every waste stream needs to be cleared with the right paperwork: amalgam and separator contents, sharps, clinical waste, X-ray chemicals, medicines including controlled drugs, gypsum and old equipment. Suction lines and amalgam separators should be decommissioned by a specialist, and waste records must still be kept for at least two or three years after closure.BusinessFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/dental-waste-inspection-what-inspectors-check/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/dental-waste-inspection-what-inspectors-check/When dental practices are inspected, waste is checked as part of infection prevention and control and safe premises. Inspectors typically look at whether waste is segregated using the HTM 07-01 colour codes, sharps containers are labelled and not overfilled, clinical waste is stored securely, and transfer and consignment notes, contracts and pre-acceptance audits are in place.RegulationsFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/dental-medicines-controlled-drugs-disposal/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/dental-medicines-controlled-drugs-disposal/Dental practices should put expired and unwanted medicines in a pharmaceutical waste container, usually blue-lidded for non-cytotoxic medicines, for incineration. Controlled drugs such as midazolam must be denatured with a suitable kit before disposal, injectables and part-used cartridges go in yellow-lidded sharps containers, oxygen cylinders go back to the supplier, and no medicine should ever be poured down a sink or toilet.RegulationsFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/dental-laboratory-waste-guide/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/dental-laboratory-waste-guide/Dental laboratories produce different waste from surgeries: large volumes of gypsum, alginate and silicone impressions, acrylic monomer and resins, metal scrap and grindings, investment and grinding dust, waxes and pickling acids. Gypsum must be kept out of general waste going to landfill, liquid monomer and acids are hazardous chemicals, and metal scrap is usually worth sending for refining.BusinessFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/reduce-dental-waste-costs-sustainability/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/reduce-dental-waste-costs-sustainability/The quickest way for a dental practice to cut waste costs is to move low-risk items such as gloves, bibs and masks from infectious to offensive waste, fill containers properly before collection, and match collection frequency to how quickly bins fill. Digital imaging and scanning remove chemical and gypsum waste, and recycling packaging separately reduces general waste costs and meets workplace recycling rules.CostsFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/digital-waste-tracking-dental-practices/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/digital-waste-tracking-dental-practices/Mandatory digital waste tracking began on 1 October 2026 for permitted and licensed waste receiving sites in England and Wales, with Scotland and Northern Ireland following in January 2027 and carriers, brokers and dealers from October 2027. Dental practices do not need to use the system yet, and must keep completing waste transfer notes and hazardous waste consignment notes as before.RegulationsFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/dental-amalgam-phase-out-uk/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/dental-amalgam-phase-out-uk/Dental amalgam is not banned in the UK yet. The EU banned most use from 1 January 2025, but Northern Ireland secured a derogation allowing use until 31 December 2034, and in November 2025 parties to the Minamata Convention, including the UK, agreed to phase out dental amalgam by 2034. Existing rules on separators, encapsulated amalgam and use in children still apply, and amalgam waste will continue for years from removing old fillings.AdviceFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/mercury-spill-dental-practice/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/mercury-spill-dental-practice/If mercury or amalgam is spilled, keep people away, ventilate the room, remove jewellery, put on gloves and use the practice mercury spill kit to collect droplets into a sealed container. Never vacuum or sweep up mercury, and never put it in clinical waste or down the drain. The recovered mercury goes in the amalgam waste stream, and the incident should be recorded and reviewed under COSHH.How-toFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/new-dental-practice-waste-setup/https://dentalwastedisposal.org.uk/blog/new-dental-practice-waste-setup/A new dental practice needs a waste contract with a registered carrier covering every stream it will produce, colour-coded containers in each surgery and the decontamination room, a secure store for waste awaiting collection, a written waste policy, staff training, an amalgam separator if amalgam will be used, and a filing system for transfer and consignment notes. Practices in Wales producing more than 500kg of hazardous waste a year must also register with Natural Resources Wales.BusinessFri, 06 Nov 2026 09:00:00 +0000