Recycling Old X-Rays
With Waste Action Maleny
Have you ever wondered what to do with old X-rays? They can be recycled, but not through your home recycling bin. On the Sunshine Coast, you can drop them off for recycling at the Caloundra, Buderim, Nambour or Beerwah Resource Recovery Centres. Ask staff if you’re not sure where the bins are located.
Or you can ask your local radiology clinic, hospital or dentist if they have a collection program for old X-rays. Failing that, place them in your general waste bin.
Why recycle X-rays?
X-ray films contain silver halides (compounds of silver and a halogen element like chlorine, bromine or iodine). When the X-rays are recycled, the silver is extracted, purified and reused in new products such as silver solder, jewellery, silver plating of utensils, electrical components, or films. This reduces the need for new silver mining. Also, the plastic from X-rays can be reused as an additive in bitumen for road-building.
Apart from saving and repurposing valuable resources, recycling X-rays reduces the plastic pollution and carbon emissions that would otherwise result from them ending up in landfill.
