Hazardous waste

Donkmeister · 22 Dec 2010

I've noticed that my local council classes fluorescent lamps as "ABSOLUTE"-class hazardous waste, indicating that I can not put spent lamps into the regular rubbish stream. However, they have not issued me with a bin for spent-CFLs nor is there a fluorescent lamp disposal facility at the local tip.

Where do you all dispose of your CFLs, fluorescent tubes and other items of hazardous waste?

I know the amount of mercury is tiny, but if it wasn't hazardous surely it wouldn't be classed as a hazard?

Of course I am being facetious, because most people will continue to put them in household rubbish... however everyone seems to know it's wrong to pour engine oil down the drain, shouldn't they ensure people know to drive to their nearest heavy metals recycling facility with each CFL?

Whitespirit66 · 22 Dec 2010

Donkmeister said:
indicating that I can not put spent lamps into the regular rubbish stream.

Not sure that you should be putting old strip lights in the river.

I usually place my old strip lights in an empty wheelie bin. My own bin, if I can't find someone else's. Then I turn my face away, whilst I break the lamp with a broom.

If you're worried about the council spotting the old lamp in your bin, chuck some asbestos lagging on top. Then, if you do get caught, the asbestos will divert their attention from the flourescent lights.

ColJack · 22 Dec 2010

it's more for the phosphorous coating to the tubes than the mercury..

any electrical wholesaler should have a collection area, as should any council tip.. if not then hand them to the workers with the line "You deal with it or it's going in the general waste.. "...

likewise, the DIY stores should have a disposal bin if they sell them..

fekarrs · 22 Dec 2010

Donkmeister";p="1840312 said:
Donkmeister";p="1840312 said:

Where do you all dispose of your CFLs, fluorescent tubes and other items of hazardous waste?

Click to expand...

Think outside the box. Ideal time of the year to gift-wrap them, and give them to all the neighbourhood kids, telling them that they're getting Luke Skywanker light sabres for Xmas!

gblades · 22 Dec 2010

Whitespirit66 said:
Donkmeister said:

indicating that I can not put spent lamps into the regular rubbish stream.

Click to expand...

Not sure that you should be putting old strip lights in the river.

I usually place my old strip lights in an empty wheelie bin. My own bin, if I can't find someone else's. Then I turn my face away, whilst I break the lamp with a broom.

If you're worried about the council spotting the old lamp in your bin, chuck some asbestos lagging on top. Then, if you do get caught, the asbestos will divert their attention from the fluorescent lights.

A few years ago the local tip refused to take some cfl tubes. The bloke said they were happy to take them if they were broken and as we had to go back with a second load they got 'accidentally' broken while reloading the van

PrenticeBoyofDerry · 22 Dec 2010

The have a lock up cabin for them at my local tip, but you can also drop them off at the local wholesalers at a price.

Mw Roofline · 22 Dec 2010

Donk, give lampcare a call they will tell you where the nearest bin is. Most CEF (City electrical factors) shops have the green Easy WEEE bins outside. There is one on my estate that the sparkys fill up.

geraint · 22 Dec 2010

if perchance they break as you put them in the skip or bin.... they will take them.... simples....

Mickymoody · 26 Dec 2010

I suppose there are other household items that would be classed as hazardous, my smoke alarm has a sign on it indicating contains radioactive material (always a worrying sign to see), you can't throw them away, and the new ones that the fire brigade come out to fit, don't have renewable batteries, they are sealed units, and therefore have a shelflife; A microwave for obvious reasons, it's been generating radiation all it's working life?

Before H&S became trendy, I once threw a car cylinder head, a carburetor, and a car battery in the bin, I didn't have transport at the time, obviously. Then got an angry knock on the door, from the binmen, DON'T you be throwing batteries away, in your rubbish! What? even little AAA batteries? I know D batteries give your tongue a tingle if you lick them..so why complain? I didn't even put it in my bin, so why they came knocking for me is beyond me! (I know the battery acid could have leaked out etc, the battery was dry, and dead - I'd used all the acid as weedkiller, the soil round here used to be VERY alkaline)

Monkeh · 26 Dec 2010

Mickymoody said:
A microwave for obvious reasons, it's been generating radiation all it's working life?

Non-ionizing radiation.. it's not like they're radioactive.

Mickymoody · 26 Dec 2010

Monkeh said:
Mickymoody said:

A microwave for obvious reasons, it's been generating radiation all it's working life?

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Non-ionizing radiation.. it's not like they're radioactive.

Sorry, I didn't realise that I wasn't a scientist, until you pointed it out. You must be so much fun at XMas?

The glass turntable inside a microwave MUST be a hazard, what would one do, if one were to break?

So the NON-ionizing radiation is a GOOD thing then, like the GOOD bacteria in a yogurt, that's made from bacteria?

Did you get socks, clothes that don't fit, and bath stuff, that you will never use this year as well? And that's why you are being so pedantic?

Monkeh · 26 Dec 2010

Mickymoody said:
Sorry, I didn't realise that I wasn't a scientist, until you pointed it out. You must be so much fun at XMas?

The glass turntable inside a microwave MUST be a hazard, what would one do, if one were to break?

So the NON-ionizing radiation is a GOOD thing then, like the GOOD bacteria in a yogurt, that's made from bacteria?

Did you get socks, clothes that don't fit, and bath stuff, that you will never use this year as well? And that's why you are being so pedantic?

Wow, you get real grumpy around xmas don't you?

nickso · 26 Dec 2010

Monkeh said:
Mickymoody said:

Sorry, I didn't realise that I wasn't a scientist, until you pointed it out. You must be so much fun at XMas?

The glass turntable inside a microwave MUST be a hazard, what would one do, if one were to break?

So the NON-ionizing radiation is a GOOD thing then, like the GOOD bacteria in a yogurt, that's made from bacteria?

Did you get socks, clothes that don't fit, and bath stuff, that you will never use this year as well? And that's why you are being so pedantic?

Click to expand...

Wow, you get real grumpy around xmas don't you?

no he just can't take being wrong about anything, even stuff he has no idea about.

Monkeh · 26 Dec 2010

nickso said:
Monkeh said:

Mickymoody said:

Sorry, I didn't realise that I wasn't a scientist, until you pointed it out. You must be so much fun at XMas?

The glass turntable inside a microwave MUST be a hazard, what would one do, if one were to break?

So the NON-ionizing radiation is a GOOD thing then, like the GOOD bacteria in a yogurt, that's made from bacteria?

Did you get socks, clothes that don't fit, and bath stuff, that you will never use this year as well? And that's why you are being so pedantic?

Click to expand...

Wow, you get real grumpy around xmas don't you?

Click to expand...

no he just can't take being wrong about anything, even stuff he has no idea about.

Eh, that too. I wonder what they taught in school in his day if they didn't go over radiation. Or toughened glass, for that matter.

wingcoax · 26 Dec 2010

All the tips i have seen recently have provision for flouro tubes. Usually a length of large dia corry plastic tube with caps on either in or near a container.

Hazardous waste

geraint

Mickymoody

Mickymoody

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