Core Preservation Administration Interest Group

I love that I logged in to look up archives on this topic and look who I found asking!
I recently did a very quick, bare bones search and found:  a couple of vendors, for recovery from film. (Recovery from fixer & developer are mentioned most often, since places still teach wet darkroom).  These vendors may or may not be in SAM.  It takes a large amount of film to make recycling viable (see parentheticals), but if they or you can aggregate with another bulk source, there is potential.

• https://www.rochestersilverworks.com/services (expand the topic to read: "We accept lots from single gaylords to full truckloads")
• https://www.rdminc.com/our-services/x-ray-recycling/  (but they no longer offer X-ray recycling?)

I am also inquiring from a cradle-to-grave perspective of recovering polyester, if known. 



------------------------------
Nora Lockshin
Smithsonian Institution Archives
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Nov 10, 2021 10:39 AM
From: Fletcher Durant
Subject: Recycling microfilm?

As we digitize our microfilm holdings, we are making plans to deaccession the access copies of the microfilm. The suggestion from some of the older microfilm literature is to recycle the silver gelatin film to recapture the silver, but I am not familiar with any vendors who do this work. Kodak used to do this work, but no longer seems to be in that business.

Does anyone have suggestions for vendors for bulk film recycling/reclamation? Or other ideas for what to do with old shelf copies of microfilm (besides offering to public libraries)?

Thanks,

Fletcher

To add, I found an interesting opportunity for colleagues managing military libraries, archives and records management, in accordance with the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS), now Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services, and a couple more vendors. 

Resources/References:

Canepi, Kitti, Becky Ryder, Michelle Sitko, Catherine Weng, and American Library Association. "7. Donating, Discarding, and Recycling," Managing Microforms in the Digital Age, August 20, 2013. https://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/collect/serials/microforms07.

Defense Logistics Agency. "Precious Metals." Accessed July 8, 2022. https://www.dla.mil/DispositionServices/DDSR/TurnIn/PreciousMetals/.

X-Ray/Aerial/Silver bearing films. If property is medical/dental type, it will be assumed to contain Personal Identifiable Information (PII). Property will have to be sanitized in accordance with service procedures before turn in to Disposition Services. If sanitization procedure is cost prohibitive, contact dla.disp.srvcs.pmrp@dla.mil for other methods of disposal. DD Form 1348-1A, block 27 (ADD'L DATA) will need following text for turn-in: "I [print full name] have verified there is no Personal Identifiable Information (PII) left on the property being turned in. [signature] and [date]".

PRO-ACT.  "Fact Sheet: Silver Recovery from Photographic and Imaging Wastes." (via Pollution Prevention Services InfoHouse, Iowa Department of Natural Resources). April 1998. Accessed July 8, 2022. https://p2infohouse.org/ref/07/06010.htm.

(note that 800 phone number listed now serves another office of the US Air Force)

Vendors:

• "Photographic Film Silver Recovery | Arch Film Recycling." Accessed July 8, 2022. https://www.archenterprises.com/photographic-film-recycling.html.
• "Recycling Microfilm - The Crowley Company." Accessed July 8, 2022. https://thecrowleycompany.com/recycling-microfilm/
• https://www.rochestersilverworks.com/services (expand the topic to read: "We accept lots from single gaylords to full truckloads")
• https://www.rdminc.com/our-services/x-ray-recycling/  (but they no longer offer X-ray recycling?)

 

 

------------------------------
Nora Lockshin
Senior Conservator
Smithsonian Libraries and Archives
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Jul 07, 2022 02:39 PM
From: Nora Lockshin
Subject: Recycling microfilm?

I love that I logged in to look up archives on this topic and look who I found asking!
I recently did a very quick, bare bones search and found:  a couple of vendors, for recovery from film. (Recovery from fixer & developer are mentioned most often, since places still teach wet darkroom).  These vendors may or may not be in SAM.  It takes a large amount of film to make recycling viable (see parentheticals), but if they or you can aggregate with another bulk source, there is potential.

• https://www.rochestersilverworks.com/services (expand the topic to read: "We accept lots from single gaylords to full truckloads")
• https://www.rdminc.com/our-services/x-ray-recycling/  (but they no longer offer X-ray recycling?)

I am also inquiring from a cradle-to-grave perspective of recovering polyester, if known.



------------------------------
Nora Lockshin
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Original Message:
Sent: Nov 10, 2021 10:39 AM
From: Fletcher Durant
Subject: Recycling microfilm?

As we digitize our microfilm holdings, we are making plans to deaccession the access copies of the microfilm. The suggestion from some of the older microfilm literature is to recycle the silver gelatin film to recapture the silver, but I am not familiar with any vendors who do this work. Kodak used to do this work, but no longer seems to be in that business.

Does anyone have suggestions for vendors for bulk film recycling/reclamation? Or other ideas for what to do with old shelf copies of microfilm (besides offering to public libraries)?

Thanks,

Fletcher