What container is used for disposing of amalgam waste?

• A. Plastic bag with seal
• B. Glass jar labeled 'recyclable'
• C. White lidded container with mercury suppressant
• D. Red biohazard bag

Answer: (C)

Amalgam waste contains mercury, so it must be stored in a sealed container that also neutralizes or stabilizes mercury to prevent vapor release. The white-lidded container with a mercury suppressant is designed specifically for this purpose: it provides secure containment and chemically mitigates mercury, reducing the risk if the container is damaged or emptied later. This matches how dental settings manage hazardous chemical waste and mercury risk.

Other options aren’t appropriate because a plastic bag, even if sealed, isn’t designed for long-term containment of mercury vapor; a glass jar labeled “recyclable” mislabels hazardous chemical waste and can break, risking mercury exposure; and a red biohazard bag is meant for infectious materials, not chemical or mercury-containing waste, and won’t provide the necessary stabilization.