"Every kilogram of medical X-ray film holds 5 to 15 grams of silver - enough to make tossing those old films in the trash not just an environmental problem, but an outright waste of a recoverable precious metal."
"A research paper in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering reports that medical X-ray films typically contain between 5 and 15 grams of silver per kilogram of film. That's the highest silver concentration of any common photographic material."
"The plastic substrate, once the silver has been stripped out, is recyclable PET. Nothing in a properly recycled X-ray film needs to go to a landfill."
Medical X-ray films contain 5 to 15 grams of silver per kilogram, making them valuable for recycling. Disposing of X-rays in the trash is illegal in many areas. Millions of Americans have old X-ray films that need proper handling. X-ray films are made of PET plastic and silver halide crystals, which capture images. Recycling these films not only recovers precious metals but also ensures that recyclable materials do not end up in landfills. Understanding the recycling process is crucial for patients and clinics.
Read at Earth911
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