Dental amalgam recycling and mercury compliance in Australian practices
Dental practices today manage more than patient care. They also play a role in protecting staff safety, meeting regulatory expectations, and reducing environmental impact. One area that can easily be overlooked is dental amalgam and mercury recycling in Australian dental practices, particularly in relation to environmental compliance and waste management.
To explore this topic, Cattani recently spoke with Ian Crawford AM from Ecocycle, the only nationally EPA approved and licenced mercury recycler and the biggest in Australasia. The conversation forms the basis of the short presentation Partners in Responsibility: Amalgam Recycling for a Better Future.
Why amalgam recycling matters
Although the use of dental amalgam is declining, amalgam restorations are still removed every day. Each filling contains mercury, a heavy metal that can harm people and the environment if not correctly captured and recycled.
Over recent years, EPA expectations around mercury disposal and EPA dental amalgam requirements in Australia have progressed from general awareness to clearer accountability. Following Australia’s ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury in December 2021, with enforcement from March 2022, dentistry now operates under clearer expectations for mercury management and environmental protection. As a result, greater emphasis has been placed on amalgam capture, licensed handling, and approved recycling pathways to prevent mercury entering sewer systems, waterways, and landfill.
What best practice looks like
Modern dental suction systems and amalgam separators make collection more seamless than ever when retention is engineered directly into the suction system. Cattani’s Hydrocyclone technology uses the fluid pressure of the system to separate and retain amalgam without additional power, achieving retention rates that exceed ISO 11143 requirements.
However, best practice extends beyond capture. It also includes regular maintenance, licensed collection, and ensuring amalgam waste is recycled through approved, end-to-end processes so mercury is prevented from entering sewer systems, waterways, and landfill.
A shared responsibility
In the video, Ian Crawford AM shares Ecocycle’s approach to responsible mercury recycling and the importance of knowing exactly where amalgam goes once it leaves the practice. Through our partnership with Ecocycle, Cattani supports dental professionals in managing amalgam responsibly as part of a complete plant room solution.
Partners in Responsibility: Amalgam Recycling for a Better Future
Watch the full video
