Dental Offices

Effective July 14,2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passed an Amalgam Rule seeking to reduce the discharge of mercury-containing dental amalgam to municipal sewage treatment plants from dental offices in the United States. The rule requires the installation of an amalgam separator and a one-time compliance report to be submitted. Also included in the rule are recordkeeping requirements and prohibitions on certain types of cleaners used in dental unit water lines.

All offices that open after July 14, 2017 must comply by July 14, 2020, and submit the one-time compliance report by October 12, 2020. The American Dental Association and EPA crafted several resources to help dentists comply with the new rule.

Please contact the pretreatment program at 940-349-8619 for assistance.

Important Documents

  1. Fact Sheet: Effluent Limitations, Guidelines and Standards for Dental Offices (PDF)
  2. Frequently Asked Questions on the Dental Office Category Rule (PDF)
  3. One-Time Compliance Certification Report for Dental Dischargers (PDF)
  4. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Amalgam Recycling Rule Flowchart (PDF)