Lead rubber is a primary material for numerous radiation protection products including lead curtains and lead aprons. It is a vital material in the industry. The scraps that result from lead rubber products that are damaged, expired, or simply unused, must be handled with care to ensure responsible disposal. If lead products are not disposed of correctly, they can pose a danger to the environment and safety. Xena Shield offers quality support and professional lead rubber scrap management solutions.
Lead Rubber Scrap
Lead rubber combines flexible rubber with lead, which has excellent radiation-shielding qualities. Because lead rubber blocks X-rays and ionizing radiation, its uses are many—from being used as shielding curtains in radiation facilities, to protective aprons, door seals, and so many more custom-shielding solutions. Lead rubber is used in many radiation shielding solutions in hospitals, diagnostic centers, industrial X-ray systems, and other radiation protection centers.
When healthcare facilities upgrade or change equipment, large amounts of lead rubber waste are created. Lead rubber waste can be:
- Lead aprons that are lead rubber waste
- Lead curtain strips that are worn out
- Off-cuts from manufacturing
- Shielding materials that are defective
- Lead rubber waste in the form of garments that are worn out
Waste that is lead-rubber-based should not be discarded as normal solid waste, and should be recycled instead of being disposed of in the regular waste stream.
Recycling Lead Rubber Scrap
Lead is a dense metal and an excellent ionizing radiation shield. However, lead needs to be handled with care throughout its life, especially so when it is no longer in use and needs to be recycled. Good lead rubber protection garment recycling ensures:
- Lead rubber waste from manufacturing is lessened
- Sustainable lead resources are recovered
- Lead rubber manufacturing waste is reduced
- Manufacturing lead rubber waste is recycled
Along with reducing the impact lead rubber has on the environment by being discarded, the recycling of lead rubber protection garments also ensures that the regulatory requirements that govern the recycling of lead are met.
If the recycling of lead rubber waste protection garments is done the right way, regulatory requirements can be met, and the negative impact on the environment can be reduced.
How Xena Shield Manages Lead Rubber Waste
Xena Shield is an expert in lead and non-lead shielding radiation protection garments, and has been a leading manufacturer of radiation protection garments since 2011.
The company sells many radiation protection products including lead aprons, lead sheets, lead glass, lead sheets, and lead rubber curtains.
1. Collection and Assessment Support
Xena Shield supports healthcare and industrial sectors for the assessment of aged lead rubber products for curtains, aprons, and lead sheets for refurbishment, replacement, and recycling.
2. Scrap Leading Rubber Products
Lead rubber products require special handling for safe transport and not to cause contamination. With Xena Shield’s leadership, clients are supported to select optimal recycling and disposal routes for lead-based products.
3. Sustainable Scrap Management
Lead rubber off-cuts and production lead rubber scrap created as a by-product of manufacturing are managed responsibly as a resource, not a waste to create more sustainable manufacturing practices.
4. Modern Radiation Protection Products
Lead rubber products are typically replaced with newer radiation protection products. Xena Shield provides radiation protection products that are BARC approved and ISO Certified. These products include curtains, sheets, lead aprons, lead-free aprons, and thyroid shields.
5. Consultation
Protection from Lead Rubber Products is outdated, and Xena Shield assists in the assessment and safe recycling and disposal of these products while providing the client the needed protection.
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