OLYMPIA – Washington State Ecology Director Jay Manning has presented Dentistry Northwest with Washington’s top environmental award for eliminating its use of mercury and other toxics, protecting water quality, and conserving water.

The Port Hadlock business received the 2006 Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices in a ceremony at the state capitol October 4.

"These organizations are not only achieving outstanding bottom-line results through their pollution prevention efforts, but they are helping to move Washington forward in a competitive global economy,” said Manning. “Business practices that this year’s award winners are using are helping to secure our place in the world economy.

Dentistry Northwest is a small dental office housed in a classic Victorian home. Dr. John Barrett started the practice in 1979. The practice has eliminated or reduced the use of heavy metals and toxic chemicals by finding alternatives, upgrading equipment, and redesigning their business practices.

They use a resin-based compound for fillings to avoid using the more common amalgam of mercury and other heavy metals. Chairside traps and amalgam separators in the drains keep materials from old fillings out of the wastewater. The digital X-ray machine doesn’t need fixer and developer chemicals, eliminating the silver and lead-laden waste. It also decreased the radiation exposure to staff. A sterilizing autoclave uses distilled water, rather than formaldehyde.