X-ray film recycling is an important service that aids in the preservation of the environment. Most people do not realize that dental x-ray film and other kinds of photographic film that contain silver cannot be thrown away with the rest of a household's or business' garbage. Silver recovery from xray film is a field specializing in a process that is not performed at general garbage disposal or recycling sites. Dental xray film and NDT film require special treatment before they can be discarded. Industrial Surplus can treat and safely dispose of xray film.
Silver recovery from x-ray film can be easily sought out in Phoenix, AZ. If NDT film is not sent to a professional silver recycler like Industrial Surplus, the silver and other chemicals in the film can enter the water supply and contribute to the levels of water pollution in Phoenix. Recovery companies request that people mail their film to them so they can perform the x-ray film recycling on their premises in a safe, efficient manner. Recovery companies perform their silver recovery from x-ray film by grinding up the film into the smallest pieces that they possibly can. They then rinse the silver and other chemicals from the film and dispose of the film, which at that point is nothing more than completely clean bits of plastic. The best part of sending one's old film to a silver recycler is that people who are conscientious enough to do so are often financially compensated for the silver that has been collected. Dentists and photographers who are clearing out their old files and discarding old batches of film should already be interested in protecting the environments from harmful chemical contamination, and being paid for caring about the environment provides an extra incentive.
X-ray recycling may seem like a very small way to contribute to the good of the planet, but film is actually a major source of pollution. Contamination of water sources is a problem that can affect every single living creature in a geographic area. X-ray recycling is not limited to film from dental and other medical offices. Professional photographers and photography students use a lot of film, and most of the pictures that are taken are not used. It is common for people amateur photographers to lose track of their film as they move on to new hobbies. Since digital photography is so prevalent, many serious photographers scan their old film into their computers and then throw it away. Even old film can still be sent in to be cleaned and recycled. The packaging on all kinds of photographic film will indicate whether or not it needs to be sent to a film buyer like Industrial Surplus.
