MoU to recycle dental waste

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry and the Sweden Recycling AB signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to improve the dental waste disposal techniques at a cost of Rs. 25 million from January 1, next year, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

According to the spokesman 400 units will be set up countrywide and Sweden Recycling AB will remove the collection of the accumulated waste from time to time and recycle them outside Sri Lanka. The two companies will ensure their assistance and cooperation to sustain this project as a long term activity. The project will prevent mercury in the dental amalgam waste, getting into the soil, surface water, ground water or sea. Under the MoU, the necessary equipment will be provided by Sweden Recycling and Swedlanka. The companies will assist in all activities to get the system in place. The Ministry will administer the project. The project will cover Government dental clinics initially and will be extended to private sector gradually with the help of the Private Health Sector Regulatory Council, he said.

Dental amalgam is the most superior filling material containing mercury and the excess material after filling as well as the waste produced when broken fillings are removed can add a lot of mercury to the environment and can pollute the fish. Mercury is highly poisonous if entered into the human tissues, he added.