In Albuquerque, New Mexico the premier buyer of x-ray film is Industrial Surplus, Inc. They have the knowledge, experience, and expertise to properly recycle x-ray film as well as dispose of the waste products. Industrial Surplus will properly extract valuable materials such as silver while following all environmental standards set by the EPA to dispose of the waste.
Many people have concerns regarding the disposal of x-rays. Each x-ray film contains personal information on patients and many people are worried about private medical information getting disclosed in the disposal process. Recovery companies such as Industrial Surplus, Inc. follow rules based on the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act that outline clear steps to destroy private medical information before the x-ray films are recycled. All confidential medical information will be destroyed before the x-ray film recycling process begins, including dental x-ray film and NDT film.
There are three main materials that Industrial Surplus, Inc. recovers in x-ray recycling. First the plastic that was used for the film can be recycled. Next any paper that was used with the x-ray film can be recycled. Lastly, any precious metals that were used, such as silver, can be extracted.
Silver recovery from x-ray film is the most valuable metal that is recovered from x-ray film. The use of silver in x-ray film accounts for one fifth of all the silver used worldwide. The sacristy of silver is making x-rays more expensive. A silver recycler is vital in order to keep the costs of x-rays down.
Industrial Surplus, Inc. begins the x-ray film recycling process by removing the films from the paper jackets. The silver recovery from x-ray film begins with a chemical wash. A silver recycler will chemically wash each x-ray film and the silver will be recovered from this process. The left over clear PET plastic will be recycled as well.
Lastly, there are dangerous chemical by-products in the x-ray films. The x-ray film recycling process used by Industrial Surplus, Inc. will ensure that those dangerous products are handled and disposed of by experts and that the environmental standards that have been set by the Environmental Protection Agency will be followed.
