Reduce hazardous waste disposal costs by 70%
“Traditional” hazardous x-ray waste collection and disposal companies charge up to $500 or more to dispose of 5-gallons. Replace expensive and inefficient waste pick-up services. Using Chemgon, to store, treat and dispose of 5-gallons, saves you money!
Use Foilgon to recycle lead foil and follow the recommendations of the American Dental Association (ADA) Council of Scientific Affairs for proper management of lead foil.
Chemgon® treats used x-ray fixer and developer solutions, by encapsulating and chelating the silver in the liquid waste which is solidified; thus converting them into a form compliant for regular trash disposal. Foilgon® collects and stores lead foil from film packets for recycling through an approved processor. Together, the system allows imaging facilities to manage waste onsite instead of relying on expensive hazardous waste pickups. The process simplifies handling, reduces storage concerns, and supports environmental compliance.
Fill with equal amounts of Fixer and Developer.
Patented mixture in container solidifies, encapsulates, chelates, absorbs and binds the liquid waste. Let the container sit over night, liquid waste is converted into non-hazardous solid waste.
Once solidified, throw in your regular trash. It’s that easy!
Our patented, in-office treatment product safely converts hazardous photo processing chemicals, including Fixer and Developer or Stabilizer and Activator, into a non-hazardous solid waste, safe for disposal in your regular trash. When used correctly, hazardous processing chemicals never leave your office.
Independent testing, including Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedures (TCLP), has demonstrated used x-ray processing fluids, photo processing fluids, and graphic arts chemicals treated with Chemgon are below the threshold of hazardous waste.
Chemgon is a patented formula that converts hazardous, silver-laden x-ray and photo processing fluids into a non-hazardous solid, safe for disposal with regular trash.
Please click the image above to watch our videoChemgon solidifies, encapsulates, chelates, absorbs and binds processing chemicals through the application of coordination chemistry, converting your hazardous liquid waste into a non-hazardous solid waste safe for regular trash disposal. Standard toxicity testing (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure, TCLP) demonstrates that waste treated with Chemgon test below the regulatory levels established by the EPA. Chemgon treated waste results in a nonhazardous, non-biodegradable solid waste, safe for regular trash disposal.
YES. The concentration of silver in used photo-processing chemicals is typically between 160-350 Parts per Million (PPM). Mixing with developer reduces the silver PPM by nearly half, between 80 – 175 PPM. The Federal EPA Hazardous Waste RCRA Regulations define hazardous amounts of silver as greater than 5 PPM. This means used, untreated processing chemicals are hazardous. Spent processing waste treated with Chemgon® reduces the PPM below the regulatory limit of 5 PPM and converts it from a liquid to a “solid” non-pourable, non-hazardous waste, safe for regular trash disposal. See EPA Document Table 1. Fines for improper disposal could be as much as $22,000 PER OCCURRENCE. In other words, each time silver-laden processing chemicals or silver reclamation unit liquid residue wastes are poured down the drain, the fine could cost you $22,000.
In order to be considered an SQG, you must not generate more than 220 lbs. of waste each month. Therefore, you can fill ten (10) Chemgon containers each month. Fixer weighs about (8) lbs. per gallon, so (25) gallons of fixer is the approximate threshold. Since fixer is mixed in equal parts with developer (non hazardous liquid waste) you can utilize (10) Chemgon containers for a total of 50 gallons of fixer/developer each month and still be considered an SQG. Small Quantity Generators are usually exempt from obtaining a treatment permit.
Please click the image above to watch our videoSimply pour equal amounts of fixer and developer into the Chemgon container. Because the patented polymer is highly absorbent, the container may be filled a little at a time over many months. This means it is not necessary to stage or store chemicals separately. Once full, tighten the lid and place in your regular trash. Equal parts of fixer and developer are needed to create a neutral pH; a neutral pH is required for proper treatment and solidification to occur.
Watch our Easy Product Tutorial for Chemgon.
The two biggest advantages are cost-savings and convenience. Customers using Chemgon save up to 75% compared to hazardous waste collection costs. Using Chemgon there is no need to maintain manifests, your supply invoice is all you need as proof of compliance. If you prefer to document/log your use of Chemgon, click here for a copy of our WasteWise Disposal & Recycling Log.
Purchase new developer to mix with your spent fixer. Pour equal amounts of the “new” developer and spent fixer into the Chemgon container. While we prefer not “wasting” new developer, this approach is less expensive and better for the environment than using a waste collection company.
Electrostatic chemistries, fountain solutions, etches and blanket washes should not be used with the Chemgon product.
Yes, Chemgon can be used in all 50 states. California is the only state we are aware of that requires Small Quantity Generators to obtain a hazardous waste treatment permit to treat silver-laden photo-processing waste, with Chemgon.
Representative photo-processing/x-ray waste treated with Chemgon is converted to a non-hazardous solid waste when measured using the following tests: Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) for metals, Paint Filter and the California 96-Hour Acute Aquatic Toxicity test (“Fish Test”).
To apply for a hazardous waste treatment permit or ‘Standardized Permit’ to treat hazardous silver fixer/activator waste in your office using Chemgon, generators located in California should visit the California Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) directory here: https://cersapps.calepa.ca.gov/Public/Directory/. Once there, click on County to find the contact for your area. Contact your county CUPA and ask for the hazardous waste specialist responsible for generator authorization for onsite treatment of this hazardous waste.
The generator is responsible for “determination of hazardous waste,” meaning they decided whether their waste is hazardous or non-hazardous. (See Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 CFR 262.11) Federal Regulations allow generators to make that determination by either testing via Toxicity Characterization Leachate Procedure (TCLP); or applying knowledge of the hazard characteristic in light of the materials and/or the processes used. This means you have the option to use documented waste analysis results of treatment, such as our testing results . Click here for Federal Regulations regarding maximum allowable concentration for silver in TCLP results: 40 CFR 261.24 Toxicity Results Table 1
Acceptable knowledge is broadly defined to mean an understanding of the resulting hazardous characteristic of the waste in light of the materials used and/or the treatment process used, including film processing waste test results post-treatment. Knowledge of the hazardous characteristic of film processing waste post-treatment can include detailed information about the waste obtained from existing or documented waste treatment analysis and/or studies conducted on wastes generated by processes similar to that which generated the waste in question. This means your “Acceptable Knowledge” includes TCLP toxicity test results provided by the manufacturer for the treatment product used. Click here for toxicity testing results of film processing waste treated using Chemgon: TCLP Reference: 40 CFR 262.11 (c)(2)
You can find the Chemgon SDS (Safety Data Sheet) here.
You can fill with lead foil.
Once the container is full, package and attach Pre-paid UPS label.
Give to your UPS delivery driver. It’s that easy!
Federal Regulations prohibit the disposal of lead foil in the trash. It is a hazardous waste unless it is recycled. Federal regulations allow for lead foil to be recycled at licensed facilities. Foilgon has everything you need to collect, ship and recycle lead foil from x-ray film
X-ray processing produces fixer and developer solutions containing silver which is a regulated waste. Proper treatment helps facilities avoid improper drain disposal and maintain compliance with wastewater regulations. Chemgon can be filled over time and once full may be disposed of in your regular trash.
Product Sizes & Specs
Chemgon
Most Popular Size: Chemgon 2.5
Size: 2.5 Gallons
Dimensions: 8.57″w x 14.75″h x 6.25″d
Chemgon 5
Size: 5 Gallons
Dimensions: 9.75″w x 15.5″h x 9.75″d
Foilgon
Size: 7 lb capacity
Dimensions: 5.5″w x 7.5″h x 5.5″d
Lead foil should never be discarded in standard trash. Using a dedicated collection container allows offices to store lead foil safely until shipment for recycling. Recycling protects the environment and helps facilities meet recommended waste management practices while simplifying staff procedures.
Treating and recycling x-ray waste reduces hazardous classification, lowers disposal costs, and minimizes environmental impact. Facilities gain predictable procedures, easier recordkeeping, and improved safety while maintaining regulatory compliance.
