At United DMS we put safety and the environment first.
All grounds have fencing with restricted access and security lighting at night. Our facilities are equipped with wash stations and mandatory safety procedures to safeguard our employees and the environment.
Most photographic, lithographic, x-ray and manufactured film is PET plastic containing silver and/or other types of coatings. It is this light-sensitive silver that creates an image when exposed to light or x-rays while the coatings maintain the integrity of the plastic. However, most images only cover part of the film, and the unexposed portion or the scrap must have the silver and other coatings removed for the plastic to be reused. While silver and the coatings are not toxic to humans, it is hazardous when it seeps into groundwater, streams and rivers. In addition, the PET plastic is not biodegradable and cannot be land filled. Once it gets into the environment, silver can kill small microorganisms that are vital in sewer treatment facilities. It can also kill fish eggs and minnows that are necessary for larger species survival; therefore, potentially altering the ecological food chain.
Federal, state and local regulations require the removal of silver from the discharge solution before it enters the sewer system. The EPA has set strict standards for the disposal of silver in concentrations exceeding 5 parts per million. Many state and local agencies have more stringent standards. United DMS takes these regulations seriously and all of our products and processes are continually tested to meet or exceed these standards. Protecting our natural resources is a vital concern. In addition, United DMS has installed efficient processing ovens, melting furnaces with afterburners, settling chambers, scrubbers, bag houses and a water-treatment system. All of this equipment meets or exceeds the regulatory guidelines for safe emissions. Finally, United DMS has obtained all necessary EPA permits for our business and would be happy to provide a copy upon request.
In addition, United DMS continues to meet all the new HIPAA requirements on patient confidentiality. United DMS assures that all materials received are destroyed to non-legible forms for processing and will provide documentation to that effect. Protecting our natural resources is a vital concern – one United DMS holds in the highest regard. Helping you offset some of your costs is also a vital concern, and United DMS is here to assist you in that endeavor.