Fluorescent light bulb recycling

[CMHN]

I have had a few people ask about the compact fluorescent light bulbs and also the long 8' light bulbs and what to do with them.


I don't know what to tell them, I'm hoping that somebody here may have more information about them.


Are there companies that take these light's, so they pay for them or do they charge to take them?

I don't take them because I don't know if there is a market for them.

Any information would be helpful.

[GeorgeB]

Would be nice to know this too. Might try http://1800recycling.com/

[ComputerScrapper]

Home Depot has a program for them....According to what I just read they can be dropped off at any Home Depot location for free....Wal-Mart is supposed to start the same thing but thus far they have not made any moves in the market as yet with a few minor exceptions.

[CMHN]

Home Depot takes the small lights, but not the long bulbs. WalMart did take them in 2008 but they dont anymore.

[bpatnoe]

Check your local Recycling Center. As you may already know, these have mercury vapors inside them so be careful. My recycling center charges 6 cents per foot or 50 cents per CFL

[CMHN]

I knew they had mercury in them, thats why I don't bother with them, but If I can find a recycler I can take them as a service, even if I would have to charge for it.

I will check with my local recycler to see if they take them, but I don't think they do.

Thanks

[bpatnoe]

Just checked out the Berwick, PA town site to check the Recycling out. If I am looking at the correct place it seems pretty confusing.

[bluemeate]

give em to kids with bb guns

[hobo finds]

Where I live they do a Household Hazzardous waste day once a month and they will take them no charge!

[Dumpster-Dee]

Can't believe you posted this today CMHN. I was going to post a thread about those tonight also. I had 2 five foot ones in the bed of my truck and I stopped by my mechanics shop to pick up some stuff he saves for me. I forgot about those tubes and threw a rotor in the truck. I didn't know what happened at first. It didn't make a loud noise like a fire cracker, but loud enough to scare the bejesus out of a 1/2 deaf person. And tiny shards of glass went everywhere, including my face. Thank God I wear glasses. I made myself cry by thinking of something real sad just in case a piece went in my eye ! Does mercury have an odor ? I didn't smell anything but there was a loud hiss after the pop. Ya'll be careful.

[wayne]

Mercury vapour has no colour, no smell and no taste. That's part of the reason it's so toxic.

[Mick]

Dee, if you were outside, you should be ok as it was only two and the mercury naturally dissipates into the air. If inside (too late now but for future reference) move outside and ventilate the area.

[eesakiwi]

Ha, theres such a mania about mercury that if you were in a 'politically correct enviro friendly' sort of area...

And a fluorescent tube broke....

With a few words you could have the whole place in lockdown & they would get a toxic spill site roped off & decontamination shower setup within the hour.
The TV news'd be there along with a few firetrucks God knows how many people in fluorescent vests & holding clipboards.
Various people in Tyvek spacesuits & photo opportunitys of family, teary eyed & hugging each other & all that PC bu11s#!7.

Hell, I remember taking some mercury to school in a bottle & playing with it with bare hands.....
Didn't do me no good.

[Divemaster920]

When I was in school it was part of Science class and the Teacher gave everyone some.
Interesting to play with.

[Dumpster-Dee]

Somehow I think having it sprayed right in your fac, along with tiny shards of glass would be different. Now we know what's wrong with you kiwi ! lol

[IdahoScrapper]

I think you're okay Dee. A few years ago I managed to hit a tube in my overhead shop lights. Shattered the thing and it rained down on me. I bounced on outta there while it settled.

I am normal. Or at least I think I am. Observers may decide otherwise.

[RSComputer]

I used to work for an electrical outfit. We used to dispose of tons of 4 and 8 ft bulbs along with ballasts with PCBs. The only company that would touch them is reinchem. I'm pretty sure that they are nation wide. I'm not sure what the cost was but I know it wasn't cheap considering the chemicals inside.

[KzScrapper]

I'm curious where CMHN is these days...Maybe his new job has him busy. He used to be a good contributor to the forum.

[Russell]

People just put em curbside. The garbage men must take em. When I'm scrapping when its dark I'm constantly mistaking them for pipes. I'm let down an awful lot.

[ruben23]

it's more expensive to recycle these properly than buying the bulbs themselves