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BIZBITE

Dental Amalgam Waste Service

Tiny mercury traps create annual compliance revenue

Bottom line

Worth studying, but do not buy without strong local proof.

Dental amalgam waste service companies install, replace, recycle, document, and support compliance for amalgam separators and chairside waste in dental offices. EPA rules require dental offices that place or remove amalgam to operate and maintain compliant separators, creating a small but sticky recurring route niche.

Acquisition score
Margin · multiple · SBA data
64Strong
Avg revenue
$360K/yr
$90K–$950K range
Profit margin
35%
~$126K SDE
Multiple
2–5×
of SDE
Est. buy price
$252K–$630K
startup: $25K–$140K

How It Works

Operators visit dental practices to swap separator canisters, collect amalgam waste, provide recycling manifests, install replacement units, train staff, and maintain compliance records. Revenue comes from annual service plans, replacement filters, one-time installs, recycling fees, and adjacent dental equipment service.

BizBite verdict

Watch / verify

Dental Amalgam Waste Service has enough high-level data for a first look, but BizBite has not assigned a category-specific operating model yet. Treat the score as preliminary.

64Strong
low data confidence · 40/100medium financing fit

Why it may work

  • +Attractive 35% estimated margin profile

Be careful

  • !Source link status has not been verified yet
  • !No last-checked date yet
  • !No SBA category enrichment yet
  • !No category operating model yet
  • !Low data confidence

Deal Calculator

Priced off $126K SDE — can this deal service its own debt?

2.13×
DSCR · Lender-comfortable
Purchase multiple — 3.2× SDE ($405K)
Category range: 2×–5× SDE
Down payment — 10% ($41K)
SBA minimum equity injection is 10% for change-of-ownership
Interest rate — 10.50%
Typical SBA 7(a) range: 9.5–12% (prime-based)
Loan term — 10 years
Standard SBA 7(a): 10 years for business acquisition
Purchase price
$405K
3.2× of $126K SDE
Cash to close
$53K
$41K down + ~3% closing
Debt service
$5K/mo
$59K/yr on $365K loan
Cash-on-cash
127%
cash back in ~10 mo
Debt service coverage · what the lender sees
2.13×+$6K/mo after debt
Most SBA lenders want ≥1.25× coverage; 1.5×+ is a strong file.

SDE = revenue × margin estimate for this niche; it includes owner compensation, so budget your salary out of cash flow. Excludes working-capital injection, capex reserves, and taxes. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower.

Pros

  • +Regulation-driven recurring service
  • +Dense dental markets support efficient routes
  • +Annual replacement cadence creates predictable renewals
  • +Compliance paperwork increases switching friction

Cons

  • -Hazardous waste handling and vendor compliance must be tight
  • -Dental offices are price-sensitive
  • -Some manufacturers sell direct subscription programs

Best For

Operators with dental equipment, regulated waste, route service, or compliance-service experience

Operating Costs

Costs include compliant waste containers, recycling partners, separator inventory, manifests, insurance, vehicles, technician labor, and customer recordkeeping. Margin depends on route density and recurring service-plan penetration.

Where to Buy

US EPA - Dental Effluent Guidelines

Federal rule requiring dental offices that place or remove amalgam to operate and maintain separators

Dental Economics - EPA Amalgam Rule

Cites average annualized recurring separator maintenance and recycling cost around $588.75

ADA - Amalgam Recycling Rule FAQ

Dental industry FAQ covering compliance and reporting obligations

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Buy a dental amalgam waste service
via US EPA - Dental Effluent Guidelines
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