Introduction
Film used in photography or in x-rays contains silver. Silver is extremely toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
Photographic fixer is used in the development of photographic film. Used fixer that has been in contact with film contains high concentrations of silver.
By law, the concentration of silver in film must be less than 3 parts per million (ppm) before it can be poured down the drain. However, the concentration of silver in used fixer can be thousands times greater than that limit.
Recycling film
The silver in photographic film, x-ray film, and microfiche originals should be recycled.
To have your items recycled, fill out and fax or mail us a Chemical Collection Request. We will collect the film within two weeks and recycle it for you.
Recycling the silver in photographic fixer
We collect fixer from around the UW and recover the silver with our large silver recovery system. In order to have your photographic fixer recycled this way, simply fill out and fax or mail us a Chemical Collection Request.
Some workplaces, like Publishing Services and clinics with x-ray units, have their own silver recovery columns that we monitor. For these locations, we have an oversight program that insures that the columns are working well enough so that silver concentrations are below 3 ppm. All silver recovery systems associated with the University of Washington must be tested regularly to insure that we are under that limit. In addition, we can collect and recycle your used silver canisters and we can save you money by making sure that you switch canisters only when you need to.
Call us 206.685.3759 for more details about our Silver Recovery program.
Photo fixer and developer
Photographic developer fluid fouls the silver recovery columns. Therefore, do not mix fixer and developer.
Go digital!
We strongly encourage medical and dental clinics to switch to or start with digital x-ray technology when possible. Digital technology eliminates the need for hazardous chemicals altogether and will pay for itself in reduced film, chemical and recycling costs in the long term.
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