Once the arduous task of transitioning from analog to digital is completed there are still a few pesky items that need to be addressed before the nightmare of a screen/film system can finally go away once and for all. One of these items is; what to do with all of your old cassettes and ID cameras. Do you sell them, trade them in for credit value or throw them in the trash? Deciding what is in your practice’s best interest should be predicated on a few variables.
First and foremost your cassettes should never be discarded in the trash. The reason for this is all cassettes are manufactured with a thin layer of lead foil behind the back screen to help absorb scatter radiation. Lead has an extremely long half-life and is a potent neurotoxin that can cause lead poisoning. There are also hazardous materials in the screens as well.
How about trading your cassettes in for store credit? Depending on the make, model, size and condition of your cassettes and screens there may be some value however the market is currently flooded with conventional cassettes.
“My cassettes appear to be in relatively good shape; how about I resell my cassettes?” Reselling your cassettes is always an option, but again, the market is flooded with cassettes so the time and effort put into selling the cassettes may not make sense on the return.
“Can I recycle my cassettes?” Yes, Reina Imaging offers this as a free service to all of our customers; just pay for shipping and we will handle the rest. Once your cassettes arrive, we see to it that each cassette is recycled responsibly – never ending up in a landfill causing damage to our environment.
No matter what direction fits your institution best, be aware that your new CR cassettes and IP plates are very expensive and for the most part not as robust as your conventional cassettes. Caution and great care should be taken when handling and maintaining your new cassettes. Please read "CR Cassettes and IP Plates: Implementing an Inspection and Repair Program" in Radiology Management for more information regarding CR cassette precautions..