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(323) 326-3775

Photographic Film Recycling & Recovery

• Medical and industrial • X-raysLithographic films

• Black and white films • Silver recovery equipment

x-ray film

PGM Recycling, Inc specializes in silver recovery from all kinds of x-ray film, we have been in the silver recovery business for over 30 years, we are licensed by the EPA and meet all HIPAA guidelines and regulations for x-ray film recycling and other medical document destruction.

PMG provides x-ray film and photographic recycling services to hospitals, clinics, dentists, litho printing companies and film archives across California.

silver bars

Developing any type of photographic film--35mm, X-ray, etc.--leaves deposits of silver in the fixer during processing. If poured down a drain and into the water system, the silver can become toxic to the wildlife and environment. Photographers and photo developing technicians must discard of used fixer in environmentally safe ways. One way is to recover the silver deposited in the chemicals during processing.

Silver is a precious metal used in many industrial products.  A prime example is photographic film that uses silver because of its unmatched quality as a light-sensitive material for creating a photographic image.  Unlike many other natural resources, silver is not destroyed in the photographic process and can be recovered and re-used.

better-x-ray-film

Types of film and materials containing silver

  • Medical X-ray film
  • MRI film
  • CT scans
  • Mammography film
  • Radiographs
  • Graphic art film (lithographic film)
  • Non destructive testing film (NDT, NDE)
  • Silver traps (silver canisters, silver recovery cans)
  • Fixer solution (used and unfiltered with silver recovery unit)

Film processing fixer

Developing any type of photographic film 35mm, X-ray, etc.--leaves deposits of silver in the fixer during processing. If poured down a drain and into the water system, the silver can become toxic to the wildlife and environment. Photographers and photo developing technicians must discard of used fixer in environmentally safe ways. One way is to recover the silver deposited in the chemicals during processing.

Unfiltered fixer that is poured down the drain enters the waste water system. During the purification process, where the water is filtered and impurities removed, the silver is extracted and, along with other waste removed from the water, placed into a landfill. The silver deposits can then be absorbed into the ground and go into fresh water, potentially harming plant and wildlife.

If you have any of any of the materials mentioned above, please contact us for more information about pick-up and proper disposal.

We pay in full at the time of pickup, no waiting for payment or wondering what the amount will be.

Please call us at: (323) 326-3775

Or email us by filling this contact form.

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