Section 338.11815. Collection, disposal, and recycling of dental amalgam waste; requirements.

Rule 1815. (1)  A dentist shall comply with all of the following:

(a)    Use amalgam only in a precapsulated form.

(b)       Salvage, store, and recycle non-contact and contact dental amalgam materials, including empty amalgam capsules. As used in this rule and R 338.11817, “recycle” or “recycling” means sending mercury or dental amalgam waste to either the contracted separator company or a facility in the United States that will reclaim or distill the mercury for reuse. “Recycle” or “recycling” shall not include any of the following:

(i)     The on-site processing of mercury or dental amalgam waste.

(ii)      The sale, donation, or exchange of mercury or dental amalgam waste through internet lists.

(iii)      The sale or donation of mercury or dental amalgam waste to any individual or company for any other reuse purpose.

(c)        Collect and recycle extracted teeth or portions of teeth that contain dental amalgam materials.

(d)     Store all dental amalgam waste in enclosed and structurally sound containers until a sufficient amount has been collected for shipment to a reclamation facility or recycler or at a minimum, recycled annually.

(e)     Label all containers holding dental amalgam waste. The label shall include, at a minimum, the title “dental amalgam waste for recycling” and the date the waste was initially placed in the container.

(f)    Use chair-side traps to retain amalgam and recycle the content.

(g)     Recycle all amalgam materials collected in amalgam separators, vacuum pump filters, chair-side traps or other waste water processing devices.

(h)     Ensure that the separators operate properly and do not become full and bypass. This may include inspecting the separators annually, halfway through the operating life, or as required by the manufacturer.

(i)    Follow the steps for the cleanup of mercury spills as recommended by the department at www.michigan.gov/mercury.

(2)    A dentist shall not do any of the following:

(a)    Store bulk elemental mercury that is not in capsule form.

(b)     Put dental amalgam waste down a toilet or drain.

(c)      Put dental amalgam waste or empty amalgam capsules into trash containers, or biohazard or infectious waste bags.

(d)     Disinfect teeth or any item containing dental amalgam by autoclaving or using

heat.

(e)     Use cleaners containing bleach or chlorine to flush drains or wastewater lines.

(3)      A dentist shall train and have written procedures for training dental office staff

who manage or dispose of dental amalgam waste to ensure compliance with this rule.

(4)     This rule shall not apply to a dentist listed in R 338.11811(2)(a) to (f). A dentist who installs and uses a holding tank and does not discharge amalgam waste shall comply with the requirements of subrule (1), (2), and (3) of this rule, as applicable.

History: 2012 AACS.