how to dispose of vho bulbs?

jwalters103

Active member
im getting ready to toss out my old 10k vhos for some new t5's and i saw on the bulb that they contain mercury vapor---does anyone know of the PROPER way to dispose of these?
 
all i know about flouresent tube type fixtures is that there is supposed to be some sort of small hole at one or both ends of the tube and you shove a small screw driver in the end and it lets the gas out so that when the kids play darth vader vs. luke skywalker they wont explode on contact rather just crumple to the ground
 
I'm not sure how politically correct or environmentally safe it is but I usually put them in the trash can and toss something in the can while standing back away from it. That or take them to the office and throw them in the dumpster.
 
they are fun to pop!

i usually just break them........ then trough away the parts i can find. they are very fun to explode :D
 
i think everyone likes to break em and hear em pop, im just not too keen on mercury poisoning, i guess they go in the dumpster unless i can figure out something better. not looking for the politically correct thing to do, id just feel bad exposing someone to mercury unknowingly
 
You know I'm not sure if it's just a gas and no solids or what. The bulb itself is coated with phospors and I "think" the mercury is all in the gas. But that's just a guess.
 
I built a concrete substrusture that was well over 7 feet in depth. We reinforced the substructure with rebar as well as the fibergalss poly- structural wall that surrounded the concrete wall. I then used tyvek on the inside perimeter of the wall to insure proper mouisture outkeep. I worked on the substructure for over 2 years and after the drywall I put another layer of super absorbant polycarbon fibreMCsrtucture with over exposed breakfast burritos(you can get cheap after 10:30) I did have a problem with insects after the BB wall, but it was worth it, because the flour made an almost impervious wall. After many years of hard labor the ants set in-and it was a battle! I tried numerous pesticides but nothing worked! Then a fellow reefer suggested trying Ted Drewes concretes to smother the ants. This seemed to work for a few days but they came back harder than ever and I could not kill them!
So now I just throw the bulbs in the trash. I wish you the best of luck!
 
Drywall! That's what I was missing! I'll never get back those couple of years, true, but now I've got a place to store my old dynamite.
 
well i guess the fact that people dont mind inhaling mercury vapors intot heir lungs would explain a lot---



"After .... inhalation exposure, the nervous system is the main target of toxicity. Symptoms may occur within weeks but usually develop insidiously over a period of years. Neurologic symptoms include tremors, headaches, short-term memory loss, incoordination, weakness, loss of appetite, altered sense of taste and smell, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, insomnia, and excessive sweating. Psychiatric effects are also seen ...."


i guess nobody would mind if these things were getting broken right in front of the yard where your kids play? sorry for caring about the neurological development of my children
 
and drbdc, i went ahead and looked it up because you brought up a good point---it is entirely in the gas, but that gas is elemental mercury--the most dangerous form, and inhalation of said gas is the most dangerous form of exposure
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7080195#post7080195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jwalters103




"After .... inhalation exposure, the nervous system is the main target of toxicity. Symptoms may occur within weeks but usually develop insidiously over a period of years. Neurologic symptoms include tremors, headaches, short-term memory loss, incoordination, weakness, loss of appetite, altered sense of taste and smell, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, insomnia, and excessive sweating. Psychiatric effects are also seen ...."



Substitute "...eating White Castles," for "inhalation exposure" and it's spot on.
 
I don't think I've sweat after white castles...maybe I haven't eaten enough in one sitting though. Weekend experiment!! :D
 
ANNOUNCEMENT - If you live in the Troy area, please change your carbon pre-filters - Your TDS will be skyrocketing in the near future.
 
oh, well...I was actually going to pick them up and come over to your house. ;)
White castles n' beer...mmmmmmmmm :beer:


The wifey won't mind, right? :D
 
I believe any lighting store will take them back. Thats what I was told...I'm not sure but possible home depot or lowes even nowdays since they are big into lighting also.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7082545#post7082545 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kpc01
I believe any lighting store will take them back. Thats what I was told...I'm not sure but possible home depot or lowes even nowdays since they are big into lighting also.

Take them to Home Depot - they like breaking them as much as everyone else!
 
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