Dentistry
Dentistry is a fastpaced, highly regulated environment where hygiene, safety and compliance are essential. Dental practices generate a unique mix of clinical, hazardous and offensive waste streams, each requiring specialist handling and disposal.
WGS Waste Management provides dedicated support to dental surgeries, helping them maintain safe, compliant and efficient operations every day.
Understanding the Needs of Dental Practices
Dental surgeries face specific challenges:
- High volumes of sharps and clinical waste
- Strict infectioncontrol requirements
- Mercurycontaining amalgam waste
- Xray chemical disposal
- Limited storage space
- Need for reliable, discreet collections
- Detailed regulatory documentation
- Compliance inspections and audits
WGS understands these pressures and provides tailored solutions to meet the exact needs of dental teams.
Types of Waste in Dental Practices
Sharps Waste
Items that can puncture skin and spread infection:
- Needles (local anaesthetic syringes)
- Scalpel blades
- Orthodontic wires or sharp instruments
All the above must go into approved sharps containers.
Chemical Waste
From cleaning, sterilisation and imaging.
- Disinfectants and sterilising agents
- X-ray developer and fixer chemicals
- Etching gels and dental materials
Requires special handling under hazardous waste rules.
Pharmaceutical Waste
Unused or expired dental medicines:
- Local anaesthetics
- Antibiotics
- Fluoride treatments
- Sedation drugs
Some (like controlled drugs) require strict documentation and disposal procedures.
Amalgam Waste
Contains mercury, so it’s highly regulated:
- Amalgam fillings removed from teeth
- Waste from amalgam separators
- Extracted teeth with amalgam fillings
Stored in sealed containers and collected by licensed disposal services.
Infectious Waste
Waste contaminated with blood or saliva that may carry infection:
- Blood-soaked gauze and swabs
- Extracted teeth (if not containing amalgam)
- Gloves, masks and wipes contaminated with bodily fluids
- Cotton rolls used during procedures
Typically disposed of as hazardous clinical waste (often orange/yellow bags).
Hygiene Waste (Offensive Waste)
Non-infectious but unpleasant waste:
- Non-contaminated PPE
- Paper towels and wipes
- General hygiene waste
Usually disposed of separately from clinical waste.
Specialist Waste Services for Dentists
We offer a complete range of services designed specifically for the dentistry sector:
Clinical Waste Collections - Safe, compliant removal of infectious and noninfectious clinical waste.
Sharps Management - Supply and collection of rigid sharps bins for needles, blades and endodontic files.
Amalgam Waste Disposal - UNapproved containers with mercury vapour suppressant technology.
Pharmaceutical Waste - Correct segregation and disposal of expired or unused medicines.
Why Use WGS Waste Management
Compliant & Reliable
Simple, Personal Service
Environmentally Responsible
What Our Customers Say
PreAcceptance Audits for Dental Practices
WGS provide preacceptance audits for all dental customers, ensuring:
- Correct identification of all waste streams
- Compliance with HTM 0701
- Proper segregation and storage
- Accurate EWC coding
- Full readiness for inspections
This audit forms a key part of your compliance record and is stored in your customer portal.
Hazardous Waste Consignment Notes
For hazardous dental waste streams, WGS provides:
- Fully completed consignment notes
- Accurate EWC coding
- Full traceability from practice to disposal
- Secure digital storage
- Easy access for inspections
This ensures your practice meets all legal obligations with minimal administrative burden.
Customer Booking & Compliance Portal
Dental practices benefit from the WGS online booking and compliance portal, offering:
- Access to all waste transfer notes
- Hazardous waste consignment notes
- Preacceptance audit reports
- Service history and collection schedules
This gives dental teams complete visibility and control over their waste management.
Reliable, Professional Service
Dentists choose WGS because we offer:
- Prompt, reliable collections
- Friendly, ADR trained hygiene and clinical waste drivers
- Clear communication and flexible scheduling
- A familyrun, customerfocused approach
- High standards of hygiene and professionalism
We understand the importance of maintaining a clean, safe and compliant dental environment — and we deliver a service that supports your practice every day.
Partnering with Dental Practices Across the South East
WGS Waste Management proudly supports:
- General dental practices
- Orthodontic clinics
- Cosmetic dentistry providers
- Specialist oral surgery centres
- NHS and private dental services
Our tailored solutions ensure every practice receives the right support, the right containers and the right collection schedule.