garbage P/U and fluorescent tubes

[Freds]

A month ago I had an 8' tube burn out, so I ended up replacing both and setting them on my hopper for garbage pick up. No problem. They disappeared with the rest of my garbage. I had four set out this morning and the garbage P/U didn't take them. Apparently they radio in because when I called to find out about them, customer service already knew and said they were too long /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif OK..... it's not like they were taped end to end....

So, does anyone have a "safe" way to bust them in half? If I drilled a hole in the metal end, would a glass cutter work without the usual "poof" associated with the escaping gas or shattering where I am trying to cut? I've got half a mind to get an 8' box, set them in it, break them, and put the pieces in the dumpster loose, but I know better than to let that half of my mind do things like that /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Thanks for any suggestions. I can't believe that I am the only one in my area that uses 8 footers and has to throw them out from time to time.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

DISCLAIMER; What I'm about to tell you is how I deal with them. This doesn't mean I'm recommending YOU, or anyone else try my idea.

You're on your own!

I (wearing a leather glove) hit them straight down on the "pin end" on a hard surface. I don't slam them into the ground, but hit it firmly. The pins drive into the sealed tube, breaking the seal. At that point, I wrap them in plastic garbage bags, then drop something heavy on them. Crushed lightbulbs...

 

[Freds]

You kind of lost me... do you keep feeding the one end into the garbage bag as you're smashing it?
If not you've given me an idea anyway. Thanks, I have four to play with to see if it works.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

NOPE! completely wrap them up in plastic, then smash. Otherwise, they make a real mess.

 

[riptides]

I agree with Farmwithjunk.

Disclaimer:

I just wrap them up with a good deal of heavy duty plastic and heavy a heavy object on them from a safe distance.

Crushed light bulbs the become.

Good luck and whatever you do, think about it and do it safely.

-Mike Z. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PhilNH5]

I once read an "amusing anecdote" in Readers Digest. A small business man had to replace a flourescent tube. He had no where to dispose of the old one and remembered his apartment buildings' dumpster. So he took it home with him. On the subway he stood it upright to take up the least amount of room. When he got to his stop 6 other people were holding on to it so he just got off /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Phil

 

[CTyler]

I've only had to dispose of four footers and they pretty much fit in the can. One of the big ones provided by the GC. One pump of the BB gun and standing on the back side of the lid 90% closed.

 

[KubotaSteve]

Back when I used to help out with maintenance at a McDonald's, we would put those in a huge outside trash compactor and push the button. On the ones that were too long, we turned our heads and tapped the end on the inside of the steel compactor and it shattered off. We threw some type of high pressure outside parking lot bulb in an empty dumpster and when it blew, it sounded like a shotgun going off.
If you have a lot of these bulbs or need to breakthem on a regular basis, I would get a metal trash can with plastic lid, drill a hole in the lid the size of the bulb and insert the bulb in the hole and tap it on side of can so it will break safely.

 

[GaryM]

I stand them in the can and drive a scratch awl into the metal end. Makes a small hole and lets the pressure equalize.

Then I reach into the can and smack the glass with a hammer. It all collapses into the can.

No problems.

The rules are such that a homeowner can put broken tubes into the household trash, while the major aerospace manufacturer I work for has to dispose of them as hazardous waste. All depends on how many there are at once. We pack them in wood boxes and they get sent off somewhere. Unbroken tubes are recycled.

I don't know if that's a state or federal rule though.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Put them in the box the replacements came from, put a leather glove on and cap the top end of the box as you put the bottom end in the garbage can and then wach the side of the box and and the pieces fall right into the garbage can.

That's how I do it anyway, pretty easy and simple!