ECN Electrical Forum - Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals
ECN Shout Chat
ShoutChat
Recent Posts
Increasing demand factors in residential
by gfretwell - 03/28/24 12:43 AM
Portable generator question
by Steve Miller - 03/19/24 08:50 PM
Do we need grounding?
by NORCAL - 03/19/24 05:11 PM
240V only in a home and NEC?
by dsk - 03/19/24 06:33 AM
Cordless Tools: The Obvious Question
by renosteinke - 03/14/24 08:05 PM
New in the Gallery:
This is a new one
This is a new one
by timmp, September 24
Few pics I found
Few pics I found
by timmp, August 15
Who's Online Now
1 members (gfretwell), 32 guests, and 14 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 55
U
Up2code Offline OP
Member
Hope everyone is hanging in there! Alright here's my problem. I just upgraded a customers existing older fluorescent fixtures with new T8 bulbs & electronic ballast(thanks to rebates by local POCO). Now I have a stockpile of 300+ 8' and 4' fluorescent bulbs. Local transfer station(landfill) says "just dump 'em with everything else, no money right now for separate pick-up." What should I do? With that many bulbs possibly breaking, is there a health concern?

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
D
New Member
The mercury content may be a concern...

Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 362
Member
There companies here that recycle them. For a fee of course!

Ob


Choose your customers, don't let them choose you.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 764
K
Member
Don't know if you have an allowance budgeted into the job for disposal fees, as it will probably be cost prohibitive, but Veolia Environmental Services sells several different sizes of bulk RECYCLEPAK kits for fluorescent and HID lamps.
You purchase their container boxes for a set price, which includes the FedEx return shipping, disposal fees and any needed documentation. I have seen them in the HD Supply catalog.


Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 404
Member
If they're still good, you could offer them up on freecycle or cragslist... Otherwise, I don't think you will find anyone who will take that many of your hands for free. You're beyond the "customer service/publicity" point where hardware stores and other retailers offer free recycling of fluorescent lamps. Guess you could always take them in a couple at a time for the next 10 years...

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 787
L
Member
A quick web search turned up this.

http://www.htr-group.com/recycle/

Larry C

Joined: May 2007
Posts: 55
U
Up2code Offline OP
Member
Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll be driving 3 hours to the nearest bulb recycling center. Don't think I'll be pushing business lighting upgrades as hard as I wanted to.:)

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 47
sbi Offline
Member
Originally Posted by Up2code
Thanks for the replies. Looks like I'll be driving 3 hours to the nearest bulb recycling center. Don't think I'll be pushing business lighting upgrades as hard as I wanted to.:)


don't let this determ the direction that your business takes. You should of looked in to the disposal situation before you finalized the bid. Put this all behind you and spend somne time looking into a way to dispose of the bulbs. There are ways out there. Plus you can make more on your future jobs by marking up the disposal fee


when in doubt jump it out
I happily work for slumlords
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,335
S
Member
It depends on local ordinances. The fed require that a dump that takes flouresent bulbs must be TCLP compliant. Yes recycling does cost so pend on where you stand on recyling you may have options. A side note is that 100% of the murcury can be reclaimedand reused in new lamps. The Murcury content is less the you find in fish.


"Live Awesome!" - Kevin Carosa
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,273
T
Member
Out my way the County dump takes T-12, old TV's, etc. without any fee...

It's the only item they will take without a fee !

//////


Call around, you might find that any seller of tubes is required to accept burnt out lamps as a condition of business.

Such laws typically apply to used motor oil or dead lead-acid batteries, too.

These requirements are normally imposed to stop random disposal of heavy metals/ motor oils that could find their way into the water supply.



Tesla
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Link Copied to Clipboard
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5