Crushing Old Fluorescent Tubes Safely - Tutorial
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- How to safely dispose of fluorescent tubes, we tested three methods with mixed results. 2 out of three worked great.
Music: Forget Me Not - Patrick Patrikios
ROYALTY FREE USE ≈ / audiolibrary
WARNING: This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Have fun, but always think ahead, and remember that every project you try is at YOUR OWN RISK.
#home #repair #lights
First, thank you for your video. Second, Every store that SELLS a hazardous item (Bulbs, batteries, etc) should be REQUIRED to accept them back for recycling. Third, I see comments of people fussing at you about breaking this bulb and I guarantee they have never been to the dumpster at their own office building where HUNDREDS of these bulbs get pitched every month.
Great points, I did think about offie dumpsters. Agree stores should accept these back, but them you have to get the bulbs there in one piece...
Thank you very much ingenious bulb buster I’m safe now
Still be careful....
My friend loves these. Please don’t harm any more tubes!
Zack's Railway Line, no problem. I stopped buying them converted all to LEDs
The bottle tube worked very well for me. Thanks!
Jeffrey, agreed. It certainly contains the glass...
While it is laudable that this method will reduce risk for sanitation workers, this is completely against the rules set forth by almost every municipality I've heard of (and I mean, around the world). Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury and are classified as hazardous waste. They must be disposed at special disposal sites that specifically accept fluorescent tubes, and most importantly, without being broken. If the tube is broken, the mercury is released into the environment.
Yes, this makes them a real pain to use. This is why I would never buy any fixture that requires fluorescent bulbs. I am glad you are switching to LED.
Anton, thank you for your post. Totally agree. Unfortunately not everyone knows and will go about breaking these anyway. I also agree the LED fixtures are better all around, in theory they use less energy, last longer, and are more eco stable, for the most part. I think I'll add a comment to my video now. Although you've done a great job here.
@@MakeItorBreakItNow Thank you for the acknowledgement! Your video is great with that exception and I only posted as the issue of disposing fluorescent bulbs is something that's bothered me since childhood (when I learned about their mercury content). I agree that in residential settings most units likely get broken due to lack of knowledge. So I am glad that they are finally losing market share. LEDs at least don't have anything volatile in them, so even when broken they are less likely to pollute. Although sadly, fluorescents would be much more easily recycled if only they are handled properly (as they are much simpler and contain far fewer chemical elements overall).
Well, you know what, you can whine to Home Depot and Lowes. The big corporations don't mind taking the money to PROFIT from the sale of the bulbs, but then they want to wash their hands of the issue afterward. Then, they charge an "environmental fee" for every can of paint that you buy. And for what? We end up disposing of the paint cans. If the EPA, etc. wants to get serious about their environmentalism, then they need to make the manufacturers and sales houses responsible to recycle them.
State of TN recommends breaking these bulbs in paper or plastic...and taking them to a recycle center...
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Some places permit breaking and disposing them in the trash..Simple to put them in a huge plastic heavy duty trash bag and crush them using a hammer ..The bag contains all the crushed tubes......bag keeps particles from scattering.
leonard, I tried the bag technique and it works, just found these other options more effective for me.
I didn't know how dangerous these tubes are until I crushed 2 of them in the garbage can, suddenly I was hardly breathing for almost an hour.
They are dangerous. That's why I came up with these methods to make disposing of the tubes a little safer. I accidently dropped one inside about 4 years ago while replacing a burned out one, the fumes are dangerous.
These lamps contain mercury. So don't do this.
Do you know how much mercury is in a fluorescent tube? Do you know how much mercury it could take to get mercury poisoning?
Edit: I do still agree with you but the most you have to worry about is going insane from the mercury vapor inside as well as the dust. Even though tou didn't bring up mercury poisoning I will mention it would take more than a couple to get mercury poisoning. A lot more. So no need for worry on thay front at least
About 5 to 10 mgs. It vaporises at room temperature and you can't smell it but it damages lungs, kidneys and other organs.
I don't know how much it would take to kill you. Anyhow do what like I guess. @@sonicdash3818
If you drop them from a 2nd storey on concrete vertically you end up with just a pile of glass powder. Well that's what happened when I did it
You’re not allowed to throw these in the garbage, even if they’re broken, have to take them to a special recycling facility to have them recycled
Nick, understand. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks Karen
We dont have them in maryland anymore. Our municipalities tell us to do exactly this, break them, wrap them up, and throw them away in the regular trash.
That's awesome!
Thanks, nothing is perfect for the disposal of these bulbs, but containment is better that them just breaking uncontrolled.
Great music
thanks, it is.
The packing tape method was no bueno for me. I put 4 pieces end to end so i had a 1/2 inch overlap on all the seams. When I dropped the tube the force of the explosion just ripped through the tape, seam or no seam. What a mess.
Thanks for sharing, the tape method is probably the trickest for sure.
Donate them to your local death match wrestling federation! Lol😊
interesting. Maybe so.
so the gas inside will appear when we break it.
it is safe to not wear a mask when breaking it
because it has gas inside
VMX4857, certainly don't beak them inside, and certainly wear a mask, very good advice.
What you are doing is against the law in at least the State of California and can lead to fines. You can not put fluorescent lamps in the trash. As per the (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency fluorescent lamps contain mercury and can not be deliberately broken and put in the trash. Fluorescent lamps must be disposed of in an approved manner. Our trash service is installing cameras in the truck dump section to ID exactly what you are doing and having the EPA post fines.
Michael, completely understand. but most folks don't listen to the EPA. I've seen dozens of people just throw the bulbs broken or whole into the trash...
Almost everything is illegal in California as it causes cancer. Humans breath in oxygen and then exhale carbon dioxide which destroys the environment. In the next legislation period, California will ban the exhalation of carbon dioxide.
tell me you got all your boosters without telling me you got all your boosters
okay.
could ve explained and presented that in under a minute... therefore -borrrrrring
Thanks for the feedback, I'll work on being less boring...
This method is not safe for the environment.
Arthur, thanks for your comment. Valid point, I'm starting to think about other options here.
The fluorescent tube could to breaking if the fluorescent light tube was burned out or blackened of light tubes
Good point, thanks for sharing.
Fluorescent lights must be disposed of or recycled properly because they contain MERCURY!. Unlike chemicals that are visible or that emit a strong odor, when mercury is spilled, it forms vapors that are invisible, almost undetectable (except with the use of specialized equipment) and completely odorless. Exposure to mercury, even in small amounts, can cause serious health problems!