Disposal of Fluorescent Bulbs
Aug 6, 2016 14:04:02 #
Well, this is about as "non-photography" as it gets, but when I inadvertently smashed yet another used fluorescent bulb on my garage floor I thought that with all of the inventive, creative minds on this forum I might get an answer.
How does one dispose of used fluorescent bulbs? I've read that some major stores recycle them, but there are none in our area that do to my knowledge.
This has been driving me nuts for about 20 years, as I've never found a workable solution to the problem and, unfortunately, I have about 36 in use in various locations around the house.
Any brilliant ideas would be most appreciated.
How does one dispose of used fluorescent bulbs? I've read that some major stores recycle them, but there are none in our area that do to my knowledge.
This has been driving me nuts for about 20 years, as I've never found a workable solution to the problem and, unfortunately, I have about 36 in use in various locations around the house.
Any brilliant ideas would be most appreciated.
Aug 6, 2016 14:06:48 #
RichieC
Loc: Adirondacks
You take them to a recycling center that's accepts things like paint, oil, tires, chemicals, etc. they do NOT go into a general landfill due to the mercury in them. They take non-commercial bulbs( and the other sorts listed above) for free where I live.
Aug 6, 2016 14:10:39 #
windshoppe wrote:
Well, this is about as "non-photography"... (show quote)
I put them in the garbage and then replace with LED.
Very simple, quick and painless.
Aug 6, 2016 14:11:14 #
Thanks, RichieC, I'll look into that. I've looked at the lists of acceptable items at one center that is near here, but fluorescent bulbs are never included on the published list.
Aug 6, 2016 14:15:39 #
Architect1776 wrote:
I put them in the garbage and then replace with LED.
Very simple, quick and painless.
Very simple, quick and painless.
Unfortunately, that won't work with my many fixtures of 48" fluorescents. I should have been more specific.
Aug 6, 2016 14:22:28 #
windshoppe wrote:
Unfortunately, that won't work with my many fixtures of 48" fluorescents. I should have been more specific.
Not sure what model fixture you have but LED definitely come in 48" T8 style with 2 pins on each end.
Aug 6, 2016 14:34:12 #
OK. I just learned something new. Most of these are in my shop area, so brightness is important. How are the LED's in that department in comparison with the fluorescents?
Aug 6, 2016 14:51:47 #
Architect1776 wrote:
Not sure what model fixture you have but LED definitely come in 48" T8 style with 2 pins on each end.
LED (Light Emitting Diode) doesn't come in a form of 4 foot tube. You are talking about T8 fluorescent which requires a different ballast in the fixture, otherwise you are shortening life of the fluorescent tubes. T8 tubes also contain mercury and the disposal problems are the same as with T12 tubes.
Aug 6, 2016 15:11:04 #
windshoppe wrote:
OK. I just learned something new. Most of these are in my shop area, so brightness is important. How are the LED's in that department in comparison with the fluorescents?
First of all, LED light bulbs consume much less electricity for the same amount of light they produce compare to incandescent light (old style light bulb) or fluorescent light. LED light bulb consumes about one sixth of electricity as the same incandescent light bulb. They also last much, much longer. Usually about 30 years. They used to be expensive, but lately, they are much more reasonable. I have seen them as low as 99 cents in the 99 cents store. They were 800 Lumens (The lumen (symbol: lm) is the SI derived unit of luminous flux, a measure of the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source), which is equivalent of about 75 Watt incandescent light bulb. And obviously, they sold for 99 cents and I will be replacing them after 30 years. LED is a way to go.
Aug 6, 2016 15:17:52 #
Aug 6, 2016 15:19:08 #
windshoppe wrote:
Well, this is about as "non-photography"... (show quote)
If you are replacing them one at a blue moon time, you are OK to put them in a general thrash. Nobody will put you in jail for destroying our planet. A concern would be, if you will be disposing a truck load of those fluorescent tubes and all those hundreds of tubes will be dumped in one spot of a land fill and all those minute amount of mercury from each tube would add to each other and cause a heavy mercury polluted spot in that land fill.
Aug 6, 2016 15:34:33 #
windshoppe wrote:
Gotta find me one of those 99 cent stores!
In hardware stores they are about $3 dollars. Still a bargain in a long run.
Aug 6, 2016 16:21:31 #
windshoppe wrote:
OK. I just learned something new. Most of these are in my shop area, so brightness is important. How are the LED's in that department in comparison with the fluorescents?
This is why I asked about the fixture. Retrofitting is needed and not knowing the fixture cannot advise.
Those that claim there are no 4' LED tubes are likely not informed about anything in life.
I just did 2 terminal buildings at the El Paso International airport with 2' and 4' LED tubes. So if they do not exist then those terminals are lit by magic.
I might not be the most brilliant photographer but I do work a bit in the industry of buildings on occasion.
Aug 6, 2016 16:34:28 #
Architect1776 wrote:
This is why I asked about the fixture. Retrofitting is needed and not knowing the fixture cannot advise.
Those that claim there are no 4' LED tubes are likely not informed about anything in life.
I just did 2 terminal buildings at the El Paso International airport with 2' and 4' LED tubes. So if they do not exist then those terminals are lit by magic.
I might not be the most brilliant photographer but I do work a bit in the industry of buildings on occasion.
Those that claim there are no 4' LED tubes are likely not informed about anything in life.
I just did 2 terminal buildings at the El Paso International airport with 2' and 4' LED tubes. So if they do not exist then those terminals are lit by magic.
I might not be the most brilliant photographer but I do work a bit in the industry of buildings on occasion.
Sorry, a new technology sneaked up on me. There are LED tubes as a retrofit for fluorescent light.
Aug 6, 2016 17:33:45 #
Steve_m wrote:
Sorry, a new technology sneaked up on me. There are LED tubes as a retrofit for fluorescent light.
You are welcome.
Just a thought.
Google is a great friend prior to making a statement I have found.
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