Why recycle your old x-ray films?

If you work or own a dental or medical practice, you're probably swimming in x-ray film. There may be piles upon piles of x-rays sitting around, with nowhere to go and no purpose to be served. Yes, these are private documents, but after a certain time, you probably won't need to keep the originals on record. It can be tempting to simply throw these away with the rest of the trash, but don't... it's not an ecologically-sound practice, as the film contains traces of silver.

 You may then be tempted to burn the films, but you mustn't do that either, as the fumes this will provide are incredibly toxic - quite simply, it's not safe.

So, how can you get rid of these pesky x-rays? Well, hiring an x-ray film recycling firm to come take them away for you is one consideration. There are many benefits to doing this, some of which are listed below.

You can get rid of the clutter

Getting these x-rays out of the way will free up precious space in your practice, leaving you with room to expand a room in which you practice, or perhaps the waiting area? Think about the latter in particular, as visiting the dentist or a medical practice can be nerve-wracking for some people. Providing a safe, comforting area in which they can wait could really help calm them down. The calmer they are, the easier it will be for you to work on them... it's a win-win.

You can keep your patients' information confidential

By having the films recycled, rather than throwing them into the trash, you can be sure that none of your patients' confidential details are leaked into the public realm. Letting this happen would not only be disrespectful and unprofessional, but it would also leave your practice open to serious legal claims. You could be sued for breach of confidentiality, for one, which would cost you a lot of money and time; not to mention tarnishing your reputation, potentially beyond repair.

You won't have to lift a finger

Most recycling firms will come and pick up the x-ray film right from your practice, meaning you don't have to do anything except arrange the films in one pile - which doesn't even have to be neat! This saves you from having to drive somewhere to drop it off, which could take a lot of valuable time out of your schedule.

You could make some money

Some recycling firms will actually give you some money for the silver found in the x-ray films, which you could use towards that room expansion or even treat yourself with! Think about it - you don't have to do anything, but you get paid for it... how often can you say that?

So there you have it... by choosing to recycle your old x-ray film instead of throwing it away or burning it, you're staying safe, you're keeping your patients' details safe, you're left with time to focus on other things and you could even make some money from the process. What's not beneficial about all that?!

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