(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section the following words and phrases shall be as defined herein:
(1) “Amalgam separator” is a device that employs filtration, settlement, centrifugation, or ion exchange to remove amalgam and its metal constituents from a dental office vacuum system before it discharges to the sanitary sewer system.
(2) “Amalgam waste” means and includes non-contact amalgam (amalgam scrap that has not been in contact with the patient); contact amalgam (including, but not limited to, extracted teeth containing amalgam); amalgam sludge captured by chair-side traps, vacuum pump filters, screens, and other amalgam trapping devices; used amalgam capsules; and leaking or unusable amalgam capsules.
(3) “ISO 11143” is the International Organization for Standardization's standard for amalgam separators.
(b) All owners and operators of dental facilities that remove or place amalgam fillings shall comply with the following waste management practices:
(1) No person shall rinse chair-side traps, vacuum screens, or amalgam separators equipment in a sink or other connection to the sanitary sewer system.
(2) Owners and operators of dental facilities shall ensure that all staff members who handle amalgam waste are trained in the proper handling, management and disposal of mercury-containing material and fixer-containing solutions. Training records shall be maintained and made available for inspection as described in Section 16.09.160.
(3) Amalgam waste shall be stored and managed in accordance with the instructions of the recycler or hauler of such materials.
(4) Bleach and other chlorine-containing disinfectants shall not be used to disinfect the vacuum line system.
(5) The use of bulk mercury is prohibited. Only pre-capsulated dental amalgam is permitted.
(c) All owners and operators of dental vacuum suction systems, except as set forth in subsection (d) of this section, shall comply with the following:
(1) An ISO 11143 certified amalgam separator device shall be installed for each dental vacuum suction system. The installed device must be ISO 11143 certified as capable of removing a minimum of 95% of amalgam. The amalgam separator system shall be certified at flow rates comparable to the flow rate of the actual vacuum suction system operation. Neither the separator device nor the related plumbing shall include an automatic flow bypass. For facilities that require an amalgam separator that exceeds the practical capacity of ISO 11143 test methodology, a non-certified separator will be accepted, provided that smaller units from the same manufacturer and of the same technology are ISO-certified.
(2) Amalgam separators shall be maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. Installation, certification, and maintenance records shall be maintained and made available for inspection as described in Section 16.09.160.
(d) The following types of dental practice are exempt from Section 16.09.220, provided that removal or placement of amalgam fillings occurs at the facility no more than three days per year:
(1) Orthodontics;
(2) Periodontics;
(3) Oral and maxillofacial surgery;
(4) Radiology;
(5) Oral pathology or oral medicine;
(6) Endodontistry; and
(7) Prosthodontistry.
(e) All owners and operators of dental facilities shall submit an annual report for each facility to the superintendent on or before February 1 of each calendar year. The annual report shall contain information on the dental facility's amalgam separator and its maintenance, and shall require the dental facility to certify that it is in full compliance with this section. The annual report shall be on a form provided by the superintendent.
(f) The maximum allowable limit for copper for dental facilities shall be 2.0 mg/liter.
(Ord. 5084 § 2 (part), 2010)