Required Reporting
All Dental Facilities within South Platte Renews jurisdiction are required to submit a Dental Discharger’s One-Time Compliance Report within 90 days of opening or transfer of ownership. This report indicates that dental facilities are using an approved amalgam separator or equivalent device and best management practices to prevent the discharge of waste amalgam to the sewer system as well as prohibiting the use of oxidizing and acidic cleaning products in their offices. Any office that undergoes a change in ownership, a facility expansion, or an upgrade to its amalgam separator must also submit a new report.
Forms must be mailed with a wet ink signature to 2900 S. Platte River Drive, Englewood, CO 80110, Attn: Industrial Pretreatment. We apologize that electronic submittals cannot be accepted at this time.
Compliance Inspections
South Platte Renews Dental Policy outlines addition requirements for Dental Facilities that place or replace amalgam, including amalgam separator equipment, maintenance, and record keeping. South Platte Renew may periodically audit Dental Facilities, through in person inspections, phone interviews, or written requests for information to insure compliance with the program.
Purpose of the Dental Facility Program
Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, and copper. Mercury, which makes up about 50% of the amalgam, binds the metals together to provide a strong, hard, durable filling. However, mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can poison the environment and create a public health concern when amalgam is placed or replaced.
Dental clinics are the main source of mercury discharges to wastewater treatment plants. The EPA estimates that in the United States, dentists discharge 5.1 tons of mercury and 5.3 tons of other metals found in waste dental amalgam to wastewater treatment plants. The Dental Amalgam Rule is designed to reduce or even eliminate this pollutant from reaching the wastewater treatment plant where it might enter the environment through sludge or through surface water discharge.
The purpose of South Platte Renew's Dental Program is to prevent the release of mercury during dental procedures involving amalgam to avoid mercury's toxic impacts to human health and the environment.
Contact The Industrial Pretreatment Staff
If you have any questions or concerns or would like to discuss this further, please contact the Industrial Pretreatment Department at SPRpretreatment@englewoodco.gov or complete the below contact form.
