By implementing forward-thinking hazardous waste policies and procedures, Drs. MacFarlane, Bell and Thompson have earned EnviroStars certification for their dental office on Bainbridge Island. The office earned four stars (on a five-star scale) for not only taking many steps to handle waste appropriately, but also for setting goals to prevent pollution.

The office has taken the lead in organizing waste collections with a neighboring dental office, shares waste prevention information with other dental offices, and provides information to patients through their website.

They use an autoclave (a heat and steam system sterilization process), which does not require hazardous chemicals for sterilization. They have also eliminated gluteraldehyde, a flammable sterilizing chemical, which poses a potential risk when put into the sewer system. The office also recycles or properly disposes of all mercury and silver-bearing waste streams such as x-ray fixer, amalgam waste, and burned-out fluorescent lamps through a licensed waste management hauler. They have plans to purchase an amalgam waste separation unit, which will further reduce mercury in our wastewater system.

MacFarlane, Bell and Thompson, PLLC is located at 505 High School Road NW on Bainbridge Island. For more information about their pollution prevention ethic or to schedule an appointment, call (206) 872-4794 or visit www.bainbridgedental.com.