Collective effort

Recycling paper is just the first step in becoming conservation savvy.  by Eileen White

We are a highly wasteful society—look at our over-burgeoning landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2006 United States residents, businesses and institutions produced more than 251 tons of waste…an average of 4.6 pounds of waste per person per day. In spite of the many non-negotiable disposable items that dental practices use throughout the day to ensure infection control standards are met, there are items you and your team can and should recycle.

Think beyond recycling paper and empty lunchroom water bottles or soda cans—what about worn instruments, old computers or electronic equipment, and amalgam? Small modifications in the way hygienists think about “waste” can make a big difference.

Instruments

As people who use them every day, it makes sense that dental hygienists take the lead on establishing a dental instrument recycling protocol in their offices—a less strenuous task than you might think, thanks to instrument manufacturers such as Hu-Friedy and American Eagle Instruments.

Hu-Friedy, for example, recently upgraded and expanded its Environdent program. For nearly 15 years, the program has allowed practices to recycle worn instruments and replace them with the purchase of new instruments. Participating offices mail sterilized worn instruments to a recycling company that partners with Hu-Friedy. The recycling company, in turn, melts down the metal as scrap metal that ultimately is used for non-medical applications.

Since its inception, the program has accepted used scalers and curettes. Recently, however, the program has been expanded to also accept used diagnostics, probes, explorers, expros, mirror handles, mirrors, and dressing pliers.

Any brand of 12 used, old, broken or retipped instruments are acceptable for the program. Although there is no charge for participation, the practice must purchase 12 Hu-Friedy instruments. In turn, the practice receives another free scaler, curette, or diagnostic instrument, in addition to a green magnet with each earned free instrument. With every three magnets collected and turned back in to Hu-Friedy, the practice receives an additional free instrument. And, when coupled with the Hu-Friedy periodontal promotion, the customer receives two additional instruments, for a total of three free instruments.

Similarly, the American Eagle Instruments program requires participants to send in 12 worn and used instruments, and to purchase 12 new instruments from the company. In turn, American Eagle offers three new instruments of equal or lesser value, says Nichol Schreiber, marketing manager for the company.

Such programs make it easy for hygienists in particular to help their practice with instrument recycling, says Danielle Victoriano, RDH, BS, MHS, market leader for scalers and sharpening products at Hu-Friedy. She believes the hygienist’s responsibility should involve evaluating instrument health on a regular basis.

“This should occur when the clinician opens the sterilization bag or cassette. If the instrument life has expired, it should be removed from service,” she says.

electronics

Although the federal government does not regulate consumer disposal of unwanted computers and televisions, it does require businesses and institutions to properly dispose of or recycle these materials. The EPA has a wealth of information on electronics equipment recycling, a practice known as eCycling, that includes computers.  

Smith, EPA spokesperson, notes there are a number of things that a dental office can do to prepare electronics equipment for donation.

“Be sure to protect sensitive personal and business information by cleansing the data from any computers that you recycle, donate, or dispose of,” she says.

For dental offices in the process of switching to high-tech equipment, Smith recommends contacting Labs21, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the EPA and the U.S. Dept. of Energy that can help a dental practice with recycling older dental equipment, including scanners and older x-ray machines.

For the disposal of newer digital equipment, particularly computers that are less than 5 years old, Smith recommends donating used electronics to organizations or individuals in need. Such an act not only keeps working PCs out of landfills, but it also creates a “win-win” situation for businesses and the community, she pointed out. The equipment donated should be in working order, with original software and licensing agreements.

Benefits of recycling equipment include tax deductions and financial incentives, Smith says. To find out where you can donate equipment, check out the Plug-In To eCycling site, www.epa.gov/
epaoswer/osw/conserve/plugin/index.htm.

Before setting up an eCycling program, the EPA recommends that dental offices check their state’s regulatory requirements, which may differ from federal requirements.

The bottom line: Recycling appears to be here to stay for dental offices, and hygienists can readily contribute to a practice’s efforts to remain in the green. 

Eileen White is an associate editor for Modern Hygienist.