General Accountability

Newfoundland and Labrador intends to promote the appropriate management of Dental Amalgam Waste so mercury does not enter the environment. Newfoundland and Labrador will achieve a 95 percent reduction in mercury releases from dental amalgam waste by 2005 from base year 2000 through “Best Management Practices” using International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified amalgam separators or equivalent.

Public Role/Transparency

Achievement of this standard will be through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Environment Canada and the Canadian Dental Association. Newfoundland Department of Environment will work with the Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association to ensure compliance with this MoU. Citizens can bring their concerns forward to their dentists to help encourage dentists to install amalgam separators promptly.

Access to Information

Through the MoU the federal government will receive waste management data from the Canadian Dental Association on an annual basis which will track progress on achievement of this standard. Environment Canada will be required to produce annual summary reports which will be available to the public.

Verifiable Progress

Progress in the reduction of dental amalgam is to be pursued primarily via a federal tracking of the dental industry commitments. The annual federal reports will be reviewed and verified by provincial officials.

Co-benefits

The multi-pollutant benefits from this CWS are limited.

Life-cycle issues

Solid wastes will be land filled in accordance with environmentally sound management principles or recycled to produce reusable materials.