What Types of X-Ray Film Can Be Recycled?
Medical, dental, and industrial archives can contain several types of recyclable X-ray film. Many traditional photographic films contain recoverable silver, but printed images and digital imaging plates are different materials. Describe what you have so the right collection arrangements can be made.
Medical radiographic film
Hospital and medical-office archives may contain chest, bone, and other diagnostic films. The sheets are often stored with patient envelopes, reports, and CDs.
Many traditional medical film products contain silver. For a facility pickup, California Film Recycling handles boxing and separation of the approved files, with secure destruction of patient information.
Dental film
A dental collection may include small intraoral films as well as larger panoramic or other images. Film size alone does not determine the material or value.
Tell us whether you have loose films, packets, or full patient files. Keep any easy-to-find product details with the collection and confirm acceptance when discussing the pickup.
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Industrial and NDT film
Industrial radiographs may show welds, pipes, or castings. They can be stored as sheets, strips, or rolls, depending on how the inspections were carried out.
Mention film grades or product names if you know them. Also identify lead screens and other accessories so they can be discussed separately from the film itself.
Dry imaging film
Dry imaging products are not all alike. Some use silver-based technology, while other printed materials do not contain recoverable silver in the same way.
The manufacturer and product name are useful clues. Do not assume a sheet is silver-bearing just because it has a blue base or looks like another X-ray film in the archive.
Unused and expired film
Original boxes and sleeves are especially useful when identifying unused stock. They may show the product, format, and other details without opening the pack.
Tell us if a collection includes sealed or expired material. Keep it intact and discuss acceptance instead of mixing it into used film without mentioning the difference.
Items that need a separate discussion
CDs, digital imaging plates, equipment, and processing liquids are not ordinary X-ray film. CDs within approved files are separated by our team, but other items need to be identified when planning the job.
If the archive is mixed, describe the different materials as well as you can. Our team can discuss the collection without asking your staff to sort every sheet in advance.
Talk with California Film Recycling
Contact California Film Recycling with the types of film, approximate age, and quantity in storage. We pay by the pound for accepted film; call for current pricing.