Recycle X-Rays to Keep Toxic Waste
from Landfills and Waterways
For medical providers of all types, X-rays are often critical to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders. While many professionals are transitioning to digital X-rays, analog x-ray film remains in significant use and is often kept in place for emergency backup of digital systems.
Whether you run a medical or dental practice, are a chiropractor or a veterinarian, you may still be using analog X-rays, or you may have analog X-rays from years past that you are required to keep for any number of reasons, including state and local regulations.
No matter the origin of the X-rays in your care, eventually, you’re going to have to recycle them. Recycling X-ray film properly is critical to protecting patient identification, keeping toxic waste from landfills, and maintaining HIPAA compliance.
A recycling program also helps you free up storage space in your facility.
Protect PHI and Maintain HIPAA Compliance
The most important reason to properly recycle your X-ray films is that they may contain protected health information (PHI). To maintain HIPAA compliance, you need to ensure that this information is properly disposed of and that you have the assurance of certified destruction.
That’s why you’ll want to work with an NAID AAA Certified Recycler like Protec Recycling to ensure your patients’ PHI is destroyed according to HIPAA guidelines.
Protect People and the Environment
X-ray film is made of PET plastic and contains toxic chemicals, including silver halide crystals, silver bromide, and silver iodide. All of this can leach into waterways if placed in a landfill. These materials may damage the skin, lungs, and eyes. Proper recycling of X-ray film ensures these materials never make their way to a landfill.
Free Up Storage Space in Your Facility
X-ray films can take up a lot of storage space when they’ve accumulated for years and possibly decades. Boxes and filing cabinets full of rarely accessed material burdens your practice in several ways. The space taken up can always be put to better uses, including adding a new exam room, office, or network server space.
Free up storage space in your facility by digitizing your X-ray films and then recycling them properly.
Schedule One-Time or Ongoing Professional X-Ray Film Disposal Services
From one-time purges to regularly scheduled service, Protec helps you regularly (and properly) dispose of X-ray film. To schedule a pickup, call our office at 205-549-2120 or visit our Contact Us page today.
