Certification Program

General Information December 17, 2013

Regional San has partnered with the Sacramento Area Sustainable Business Program to develop a certification program for qualified dentists in our service area who voluntarily take action to prevent pollution. Regional San’s service area includes unincorporated Sacramento County; the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento, and West Sacramento; and the communities of Courtland and Walnut Grove. This program was developed to build awareness about mercury-containing waste that can harm our waterways.

Qualified dentists and dental offices can become certified as a Sacramento Area Sustainable Business in the category of Pollution Prevention for FREE by completing three easy steps:

Implement: Complete the five certification requirements outlined in the Application for Certification below.
Apply: Fill out the application below and submit proof of an amalgam separator.
Get Certified: Receive a window placard and certificate to show patients and employees your commitment to environmental stewardship.

What Are the Benefits?

Show patients and employees your commitment to environmental stewardship
Become instrumental in reducing mercury-containing wastes from reaching our waterways
Receive free advertising and promotion on the Sacramento Area Sustainable Business’s searchable database

Do I Qualify?

Qualification to be certified in the Pollution Prevention category depends on the type of work your dental office performs and your ability to meet the five certification requirements, including installation of a 2008 ISO 11143-certified amalgam separator. If installing the amalgam separator after October 22, 2014, verify with the vendor that the amalgam separator is 2008 ISO 11143-certified with a removal efficiency of no less than 99.0%. Under the proposed EPA regulations, an amalgam separator installed after October 22, 2014, that is not 2008 ISO 11143-certified with a removal efficiency of no less than 99.0% would not satisfy the requirements and would need to be replaced with one that does, should the rule become final. (The list of qualifying and non-qualifying practices below was developed based on how often each type of dentistry places or removes fillings containing amalgam.)

Qualifying Practices

General Dentistry
Pediatric Dentistry
Public Health Clinics

Non-Qualifying Practices

Dental Labs
Endodontists
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Orthodontists
Periodontists
Prosthodontists
Radiology Offices

Not sure if you qualify? Call us at (916) 876-4141.

(If you don’t qualify for this certification, or if you would like to become certified in other areas of the Sacramento Sustainable Business Awards Program, please visit the program website to learn more. Other benefits may be available to you.)

Accepted Amalgam Separators

List of Accepted Amalgam Separators

Application for Certification

Please fill out the information below based on the location and details of your dental practice. An asterisk (*) indicates the field is required.

Practice Type: *

If other, please describe:

First Name: *

Last Name: *

Address: *

City: *

State: *

Zip: *

Practice/Company: *

Email: *

Phone: *

Fax:

Website:

What is the make and model of your amalgam separator?

Make: *

Model: *

When was your amalgam separator installed?: *

Each dental practice must submit proof of amalgam separator installation. Proof can come in the form of a picture of an installed amalgam separator or a receipt of purchase or installation with the amalgam separator's make and model information. Please select and attach a file from your computer, by clicking the "Browse" button to serve as this proof. Files submitted must be 5 MB or smaller in size.: *

I, (fill in your name below), certify that by checking the boxes below I have completed the five requirements to become a Sacramento Area Sustainable business in the area of Pollution Prevention.: *

Certifying Pollution Prevention checklist

Install a 2008 ISO 11143-certified amalgam separator, and maintain it according to manufacturer instructions.

Collect all scrap amalgam, teeth with amalgam restorations and amalgam waste from filters, screens, separators and traps, and recycle as universal waste or manage as hazardous waste.

Do not rinse traps and vacuum filters - or flush amalgam waste - down the sink, drain or toilet

Do not use bleach or chlorine-containing line cleaners on vacuum lines that service chairs where amalgam restorations or removals are performed. These line cleaners may dissolve amalgam waste that has been collected in traps or separators.

Train staff on proper handling and disposal of mercury-containing and other hazardous wastes, such as x-ray fixer and sterilant waste.

What Are the Benefits?

Do I Qualify?

Qualifying Practices

Non-Qualifying Practices

Accepted Amalgam Separators

Application for Certification

Referring Pages

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