If you’re in the dental world, chances are you’ve come across the silvery stuff used in fillings—yes, we’re talking about dental amalgam. It’s been around for over 150 years, and while it’s done a stellar job of patching up pearly whites, it comes with one little complication: mercury. That’s where things get… a bit toxic.
Amalgam waste isn’t just old fillings. It also includes carrier tips, dappen dishes, suction filters, and traps—basically, anything that’s had a brush with dental amalgam and could contain mercury particles. And since mercury is a hazardous substance, how you dispose of it really matters.
🚫 You Can’t Just Chuck It in the Bin
We know—life would be easier if you could just toss it all out with yesterday’s lunch wrappers. But amalgam waste is classified as hazardous. That means it needs to be collected, stored, and disposed of properly—safely and legally.
Not only is this essential for protecting the environment, but it also keeps your staff, patients, and yourself safe from the dangers of mercury vapour exposure. And trust us—mercury exposure is one guest nobody wants in the surgery.
đź’ˇ The Safe Solution: Specialised Amalgam Waste Containers
Enter: the amalgam waste container. These aren’t your average tubs. They’re:
- Rigid and opaque – so nothing leaks, nothing seeps, and no one’s tempted to poke around.
- UN3291 approved – that’s the official stamp saying “yes, this is the right gear for clinical waste.”
- Filled with a clever substance called Mercshel™.
🧪 What’s Mercshel™ and Why Should You Love It?
Think of Mercshel™ as a bodyguard for your lungs. It’s a mercury vapour suppressant that actively binds to those invisible, naughty mercury particles and keeps them locked down tight.
This means:
- No harmful vapours wafting about.
- No need to worry about microscopic particles getting airborne.
- A safer workspace for you, your team, and even Dave from accounts when he comes in to fix the printer near the surgery.
It’s science doing what science does best—keeping us all out of trouble.
📦 Sizing Up Your Options
We stock these containers in three handy sizes, because we know one size never fits all (just ask anyone who’s ever ordered online and regretted it immediately):
- 500ml – For smaller practices or less frequent waste.
- 1 litre – The happy medium.
- 6.4 litres – When business is booming, or you’ve got lots of carrier tips on your hands.
No matter the size, they all come with Mercshel™ inside and are ready to get to work straight out of the box.
🌍 Why Use a Local Waste Collection Company?
Now, here’s the bit where we wave the local legend flag. Choosing a local clinical waste company like ours has big benefits:
✅ Faster service – We’re just down the road, not halfway across the country.
✅ Flexible plans – Need more collections in the busy season? No problem.
✅ Less red tape – We know the local regulations inside out.
✅ Real humans – You’ll always speak to a person, not a robot. (Unless the robots take over. But even then, we’ll make sure they’re friendly.)
And let’s be honest—supporting a local business feels good, doesn’t it?
✔️ Final Thoughts: Stay Safe, Stay Compliant, Stay Smart
Disposing of amalgam waste properly isn’t just ticking a box—it’s a legal requirement and a huge step in protecting people and the planet. With the right containers, filled with clever stuff like Mercshel™, and a reliable local company handling your collections, you can breathe easy (literally).
So if your practice needs amalgam waste containers—whether you’re running low, growing fast, or just realising you should have sorted this last week—get in touch with us today. We’ve got you covered.
After all, you take care of teeth. We’ll take care of the tricky bits that come out of them
.