There is a ‘silver’ lining when it comes to old X-rays; you can recycle them! The main component of an X-ray film is PET plastic, and it is coated with silver, a rare earth mineral and the precious metal we are all familiar with. So, throwing away an X-ray means you are putting PET plastic and silver in the trash, which ultimately goes to a landfill. X-ray recycling is the right thing to do for proper disposal. As experts in X-ray recycling for Trenton and the entire Tri-State area, we’ve gotten a few questions about it and how it works. That’s why we’d like to take some time to answer a few of them here. And, if you have any additional questions about X-ray recycling, document storage or any of the other services we provide don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Q: Why should I recycle my old X-rays?
A: Throwing away an x-ray means you are putting PET plastic and silver in the trash, which ultimately goes to a landfill. Silver can make people sick if it is ingested in large quantities and cause a multitude of health problems and even death. Something that can cause that much harm to humans and animals does not belong in a landfill or an incinerator. X-ray recycling is the right thing to do for proper disposal. By recycling your old X-rays with professionals, you can protect patients’ privacy and the environment by responsibly recycling them.
Q: Why do X-rays contain silver?
A: That gel within the piece of plastic contains silver, which is very sensitive to light. When the X-ray hits the plastic it causes a molecular change in the silver and causes it to create an image. The picture cannot be seen with the naked eye, but it can be seen after a developing process.
Q: What happens to the silver?
A: We recover is for you! With X-ray recycling we offer terminal systems and recirculating silver recovery with state-of-the-art equipment and unique systems to assist our customers in achieving environmental compliance.
Q: How do I recycle my X-rays?
A: Contact the professionals here at Resource Data Management and we can tell you all about the X-ray recycling process, how it works and how you can get started recycling your X-rays.
Are you ready to learn more about X-ray recycling as well as the many other services we provide? If so, give us a call here at Resource Data Management at (215) 953-5175 or contact us online for a free analysis! We can answer any questions you have about X-ray recycling for your Trenton area office.