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

 

[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!

 

[goodoleboy]

Put them in the trash can with a liner and throw a brick or rock in the can from a safe distance. Make sure you wear safety glasses,respirator, and space suit.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[CTyler]

And don't buy one of those flimsy space suits either!

 

[hobbyfarm]

Fred,
I can't believe that garbage men are "picky" about what they pick up. (who said they could think on their own?) If it's in the trash, make it fit in the truck. Isn't that simple?

 

[Jagmandave]

It has to do with the mercury in flourescent light bulbs. It's an environmetal hazard.

 

[Freds]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I can't believe that garbage men are "picky" about what they pick up )</font>

Yeah, they had no problem taking my old weed whacker that was setting out there with the tubes.....

I have an idea that doesn't involve encapsulating them in plastic sheeting and smashing them, setting them in a garbage can and lobbing bricks at them or space suits /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. I'll let you know if it works when I get the stuff this afternoon. I'll even let you know if it didn't work. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[pennwalk]

We have a county facility that disposes of hazardous household waste. Florescent bulbs are on the list. I took a run over there with a bunch of tubes and some computer monitors. The load shifted and broke the tubes. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Kind of a waste of time with the tubes but I was glad to get rid of the monitors. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Chris

 

[Freds]

My idea worked. Sometimes I surprise myself.
I picked up a length of 1-1/2" PVC and two caps. I cut it to length and put one cap on tight. I slid the fluorescent tube in leaving the single prong exposed and tapped it on a cement block to break the seal, but this was unnecessary and I did a couple without breaking the seal, too. I put the other cap on and flexed the PVC to break the tube inside. I took the loose cap off, held it over a garbage can and tapped the pipe with a hammer to let all the pieces fall into the can.
No fuss, no muss and everything in the can where it belongs.

...and yes, I took a picture of the four shattered tubes in a 5 gal pail /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[hazmat]

Patten it quick! great idea /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[escavader]

I put them in a trash barrel,reach down in with gloved hand and hammer ,turn my head,and wack em... as soon as the gas is released i just break em up with the hammer.
ALAN

 

[To20Chris]

Fluorescent tubes contain mercury vapor, which is the most dangerous form. Breathing it is the "best" way to get it into your system. Mercury is one of the most toxic substances to your body. DO NOT mess around with it.

I've switched all of the bulbs in my house to either fluorescent tubes or compact fluorescents (at least for those that will fit), but only where they can be covered or protected.