EPA Ruling on amalgam Separators

Compliance

Dental offices that place or remove amalgam must operate and maintain an amalgam separator and must not discharge scrap amalgam or use certain kinds of line cleaners. The effective date of the rule is July 14, 2017.

Existing Dental Offices

Existing dental offices must comply by July 14, 2020.

Existing amalgam separators may be operated for their lifetime or ten years, whichever comes first.
When a separator needs replacement or the ten-year period has ended and the separator does not meet the standard of the final rule, a dental office must replace it with one that meets the requirements of the final rule.

New Dental Offices

The compliance date for new dental offices ("new sources") is the effective date of the rule.

Reporting Requirements

Existing and new sources must submit a one-time compliance report to their pretreatment Control Authority. See the Federal Register notice for details.

For more information visit: https://www.epa.gov/eg/dental-effluent-guidelines