Disposal of waste in the dental practice setting

The term ‘clinical waste’ is associated with waste originating from medical, dental and veterinary sources and has been defined as ‘waste that is contaminated with blood, saliva or any other bodily hazardous fluids and which may prove hazardous to any person coming into contact with it’ (Department of Health, 1992). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined healthcare waste as ‘all waste produced by healthcare establishments, research facilities and laboratories including the waste originating from ‘minor’ or ‘scattered’ sources such as that produced in the course of healthcare undertaken in the home (such as dialysis and insulin injections)’ (WHO, 1999).

In medical terms, the quantity of clinical waste produced varies regionally and nationally and can be as high as 7–10 kg/bed in Northern America to as low as 1.3–3 kg/bed in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Dentistry delivered in a primary care setting is responsible for a significant amount of waste generation. The total waste generated by General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) in Europe is more than double (260 kg/year) that produced by the General Medical Practitioner (GMP) body (100 kg/year). In addition, dentists are also responsible for generation of significant amounts of heavy metal waste (mercury) through dental amalgam that is unique within the healthcare profession (Table 1).