Tetra Recycling, Inc is an environmentally friendly company specializing in the recovery of silver from x-ray, lithographic and industrial films, sludge and photographic papers.  Combining over 50 years of experience in the industry, Tetra has implemented new technology combined with a time proven process to protect our environment with little to no wastewater discharge.  In addition, this technology allows Tetra to reduce overhead costs in production and pass on the savings to our customers.

Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, Tetra is centrally located within 750 miles of 75% of the US population.  Tetra serves post-industrial & consumer, manufacturing, government and photography markets in the US while also serving clients overseas.  It is important to note that Tetra is not a film broker and allows all of our customers the opportunity to witness any or all of the process.

Tetra emphasizes ENVIRONMENT in every step of the recycling process and throughout the company.  From the purchase of electric rechargeable fork lifts to the treatment and re-use of all of the water from the wash process to recycling all the byproducts from plastic, paper, cardboard and pallets, Tetra strongly feels that promoting environmentally friendly practices and protecting our planet’s resources are essential business practices

Tetra takes patient confidentiality and privacy very serious and meets or exceeds all the new HIPAA requirements. Tetra assures that all materials received are destroyed to non-legible sizes before processing and will provide clients with documentation to that effect.  Helping you offset some of your costs is also a vital concern, and Tetra is here to assist you in that endeavor.

The Process

1)  Receipt of Secured Film – All film is unloaded at one of our three (3) secured docks and weighed in on certified calibrated scales.  A detailed check-in sheet is provided to the client listing all pallets, types of films and gross weights.  This is listed next to the customer’s bill of lading and sent for confirmation before processing.

2)  Grinding of Material – All material is then taken to one of our two grinders for chopping. It is then chopped to 1” chips and rendered non-legible to meet HIPAA compliance.  Certificates of destruction are provided to clients at no charge if needed.

3) Assay of Material – All boxes of material are thief sampled and combined by lot into a homogenous sample which is then run through a riffler in the lab to get three representative samples – one for assay, one for customer if needed and one for retain should outside umpire be needed.

4) Wash and Rinse – The material is then taken and put in to one of the two reactor washers and washed at high temperature to remove the coatings from the material.  After washing, it is then rinsed with hot water under high pressure to further clean the material.

5) PET Recycling - The rinsed film chips are then dried with high velocity spin dryers and sent to be recycled into new material.

6) Slurry Treatment – The silver slurry is then sent to the wastewater treatment system for removal of silver and treatment of water for re-use throughout the system.

7) Silver Refinement – The removed silver slurry is then pressed of moisture and dried and then sent to a refiner for product refinement.

The Environment

At Tetra we are concerned about the environment, safety and security.  The majority of all silver bearing films is on a PET (recyclable plastic) base and is held on by coatings that can be removed in a wash process.  The silver on the films and the coatings are not toxic to humans but in concentrated amounts can kill small microorganisms that are vital in sewer treatment facilities.  Federal, state and local regulations require the removal of most solids from the discharge water prior to entering the sewer system.  Tetra takes all of this very serious, and with the new state of the art equipment meets or exceeds the regulatory guidelines for safe discharge emissions.  In addition, we have all the required permits for our facility and are continually monitored for compliance.  PET plastic is not easily biodegradable and to that effect every step should be taken to not landfill PET.  At Tetra, we recycle the PET chips and ship them out to companies who recycle into new products.

Tetra utilizes a state of the art wastewater treatment system which allows for minimal discharge and the recycling of most all process water.  Tetra only uses electric fork lifts in the warehouse to eliminate potential harmful gases.  Tetra also shreds and bales all papers, cardboard waste and boxes that is generated and sends them to a paper plant for recycling into new paper products. 
Tetra is a 50,000 ft² facility sitting on 3+ acres that is fenced, lighted and electronically monitored.  All inbound parties must enter through an electronic gate.  Our DVR surveillance system can record one years’ worth of activities.  In addition, we have an audible and monitored security system on the premises.