What do u do with old fluro tubes ?

[MathewA]

I go up on the roof and throw them as hard as I can like a spear. With a good wind at my back I can really make those buggers fly.






















You know I just kidding... right!

[simon c]

According to some sources, domestic users may dispose of fluro tubes in their normal refuse, the mecury content of a single tube is low enough for it to be anaerobically converted to inert mercury sulphide in the ground. They should not be dumped with building or industrial waste as the conversion to sulphide may not occur. Commercial quantities should be handled by a professional who will grind the tubes and add sulphur to stimulate the conversion to mercury sulphide.

They should kept intact if possible as the mercuy will escape as vapour from a broken tube. The householder may dispose of them in their normal houshold rubbish (they should be adequately wrapped if they are to be broken). If the householder is uncomfortable breaking them they should be suitably wrapped and disposed of either at the tip or in the hard rubbish collection.

They should not be put in the normal glass recycle.

Reference is here:
http://www.wastewise.wa.gov.au/pages...ous2.asp?ID=45

[Gumby]

Ok guys, I get the picture. I'll stick 'em in the bin with all that asbestos I've got

[SteveAndBelle]

Yeah, I think it's the waterways that are more at risk from airborne mercury vapour from all you guys smashing them in your wheelie bins

If you could really be bothered to get more info on this goto : http://www.buildinggreen.com/features/ds/disposal.cfm and have a gander.

Steve.

[Cliff Rogers]

.......If you could really be bothered to get more info on this goto : http://www.buildinggreen.com/features/ds/disposal.cfm and have a gander.....

Uuuummmmmm I did go there & once I looked at the amount of wading through waffle needed to get to the point, I don't think I can be bothered.

[SteveAndBelle]

Yeah, agreed ... it's a bit lengthy but when you're paid to read stuff like that it kinda rubs off sometimes

Steve.

[soundman]

To my knoweledge there is no polyclorinatedbyphenols PCB in the tube itself (there is no reason that I can think of for it to be there)
There may be some PCB in old fluro fittings in the power correction capacitor.
Older (not too old) fluro tubes did most certainly contain mercury.
As I have posted previously one should take care not to be cut by broken fluro tube, & If cut the wound should be well irrigated to try to remove any possible mercury. If any ill effects are felt get medical attention without delay.
I worked with a neon tube bender that spent 3 days in hospital after a relatively minor cut from a neon tube. (there is more merrcury in a neon)

On a more positive note.
PCB has not been used commercialy for quite some time & should not be in any reasonably recent capacitors
It is my understanding that mercury is no longer used in fluros, many are prominently labeled with this.
Mercury certainly made the tubes last a lot longer & I understand that it made then strike more reliably.

This is one of those issues that nobody has bothered realy addressing in any decent way.
I would go thru about 2 or 3 fluro tubes a year thing how many just 1 woolworths store would generate.

cheers chaps

[Peter R]

I had a bit of a clean out at work and we need to throw out some old fluro light tubes. The long ones which don't fit in the wheely bin. Do you break them up ? I'm told that's a no-no. What does every one do with them? There must be plenty chucked out, considering they would most likely be the most popular lighting for a workshop.

Have you seen MathewA's avitar?????

Peter R