Hi,

I've got 3 old HPS bulbs and I realised that it probably wouldn't look too good if I was busted and tried the "it's my first attempt" defence! (Not that there isn't loads of shit otherwise , e.g. I auto-login into UK420 and have loads of pics on my PC but hey, I figure if they bust me, then I'm fucked either way and would hope that I got away lightly anyhow due to factors such as first time offence, stable job, no signs of dealing (apart from scales) etc.).

Anyhow, sorry about the waffle , back to the question in hand... Can any of you good folks advise of the safest way to rid yourself of HPS bulbs? Obviously you can't just go chucking them in landfill, but I don't fancy handing them in to an official recycling centre either! What methods do you guys use?

Thanks in advance!

Id just put them in the bin with everything else, then light up and leave the paranoia to the paranoid folks.

Local tip - sneak 'em in the fluorescent bin - maybe take some fluorescents with you as a cover.

For anonymity, I'd give them a good clean with spirits to remove my fingerprints
(even if you are not known to the boys in blue)
and dump them in a bottle bank.

Put them in your bin and risk the bin inspectors (who'd have that job? bastards!)
Take them to the dump and your car reg might be taken.

For me, the bottle bank is a compromise between disposing of them absolutely accurately
and dumping them in somewhere wholly inappropriate (sorry, green people, it's my liberty at stake).

Go with your conscience and how much risk you want to expose yourself to.

vangraffe

@ tyler !

paranoid, me? but they really are after me!!!

Just fuck em in the bin with the rest of the shite

you can make sure you smash them - the fluorescent bins near me are easy to use anonymously.

They have toxic materials in so shouldn't be put in a bottle bank. They're very similar to fluorescents.

Good to be reminded of fingerprints, but mine aren't on record and HPS lamps aren't illegal.

take them to an electrical wholesalers
who have regular pick up of flouro tubes and HID lamps

I think that's as good an answer as this question is going to get, thanks. Seems there is no 100% safe way to get rid of them . I think I'll go for the bottle bank option and try to make sure they smash really well (I had plenty of practice as a kid doing that!). If the plod want to search for my prints on them, then good luck, I hope they cuts their fingers to shreds

Please guys, not the bottle bank.
We don't need any more adverse publicity.
HPS lamps have mercury in - not much, but enough that commercial people would be prosecuted for incorrect disposal.

You should all be putting your domestic fluorescent lamps in the proper skip in any case.

keep old ones as spares
just in case your new one blows, at least it will tie your girls over until you order a new one.

if its dead, wrap in newspaper, place in bag and stand on it - dispose.

I thought I'd read somewhere that the mercury is 'used up' and that's why lamps needed to be replaced after 1yr to 18 months. I don't know exactly how the mercury is used so I'm not sure if it's possible to be made 'inert' or whatever the term maybe. Does anyone know the details about this??

Despite my post above, I do agree with ethically/morally disposing of these bulbs.
But that doesn't mean I want to expose myself to uneccessary risk, however paranoid anybody thinks I am.

When I've been to the council tip, bulbs of every kind are all smashed anyway,
so any argument about releasing noxious chemicals is kind of negated -
with that in mind I don't want to use that facility esp when my car reg is taken.

Sadly, after much head-scratching, I really don't have an ideal answer that would please everybody.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing when good folk get busted: if only I had got rid of such and such and a whole
host of other ifs, I may not have got busted. Every piece of evidence (inc lamps) is used as circumstantial in police
questioning and the courts when the prosecution present their argument. And the apparent weight of all these bits of
'evidence' can be overwhelming when questioned in a cop-shop esp to the non-legal-savvy percy grower.

I don't seek to justify my actions, nor to rubbish other people's excellent and worthwhile values - I simply regret
that while cannabis growing is illegal we each have to take steps to protect ourselves. I look forward to the time
when we (might) have a sympathetic goverment like other European states.


Therefore I maintain that every penny spent in plod-protection is better than a pound in prison/conviction.

kind regards
vangraffe

I believe this may answer your question:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/home...ws/4217864.html


regards
vangraffe

my local grow shop (where i get me lamps) recycles the bulbs for me. Great tip on keeping an old one around as a back up!

There are 2 parts to Randalizer's posts:

The latter about keeping a spare bulb is absolutely spot on.
Even a bulb at 70-80% is better than one that's bust.

However, this idea about the grow shop man recycling for him...

...that's a good one but - respect to Randalizer - I have serious problems
with this. (I hope you don't mind, Randalizer!)

You have only got his word for it that he will recycle the bulbs.

He may well, or he may not.

I do know that every business is charged commercial waste disposal rates
so why would he incur a loss to recycle/dispose of something for you,
apparently free? Even if it's goodwill, it will be in his interest to incur as
less of a cost as he can.

Also once you give him your bulb, it is not only outside of your control,
but in the entire control of someone else.

Now I know it is perfectly legal to buy these bulbs and such growing stuff,
but let us not forget it is used in a criminal activity -
therefore you want to maintain control over all of your evidence.
Giving someone something you have used criminally is like leaving a calling card behind...don't do it!

Now I know there are many, many people far cleverer than I.
They operate ID scams and stuff I can't even begin to imagine.
I wouldn't want my equipment being used by someone (police or grower or scam-artist) to implicate me
in a criminal activity I wasn't involved in.
I also know that the chances are low, but why accept a risk when you can have no risk?
Even if it's my paranoia or stupidity that's keeping me out of plod's eye -
I'm happy to take care of myself and by extension my loved ones by avoiding nick.

I want to pay due respect to Randalizer - his generosity of spirit and the big-hearted guy he is
meant he was okay for me to post the above - I believe in generating discussion that is not
construed as a personal attack on someone's opinion, especially someone so knowledgeable.
Peace, man!

kind regards
vangraffe

Oh piffle!

How anyone can construe a difference in opinion as a personal attack is beyond my comprehension. Discussion is good and as such I will now proceed to take your argument apart!



Actually not my idea. Smokey mentioned it earlier in this topic. Cheers Smokey!





Actually it's a woman owned shop in me area. And I do trust them but I agree not every shop owner is trust worthy. SF is very green and this shop is also very green.



My shop will only do a one-for-one exchange (buy a new lamp, give them an old lamp), otherwise they charge you a couple bucks for multiple lamp disposal. Another reason why I trust them.



So? Sometimes one has to let go. Clinging in fear is not very healthy.



My shop caters to local horticultural enthusiasts (orchid growers) and sells many indoor plants as well as being a high end grow shop. EVERYTHING they sell can be used legally.



Being paranoid is helpful but being smart is better. If I am already buying gear from this shop, why would I worry about returning a very legal piece of gear for recycling? If you are really really paranoid, clean the prints off!



No such thing as no risk my friend.

Vangraffe, your courtesy and kindness speak volumes. I wish you a good grow and will always be happy to hear any point of view you may have. As many here know, I am in the states and our political climate is much different. I'm certain you folks have a much better perspective on what is appropiate for UK growers than I can ever have.

Sorry m8, I don't want to be unkind but you're barking mad if you think plod is going to spend his time going through flourescent light recycling bins taking dabs off used industrial lighting. It's not going to happen. Period.

Also, suggesting somone puts these in a bottle bank is just totally out of order, bottle banks are only for bottle glass, other types of glass are specifically listed as not wanted.

Same goes for CFLs/Envirolites, proper recyling is essential as they contain mercury.

Double post, dropped keyboard!

But otherwise an excellent (double) post!

Gentlemen,

Normally, I'm happy not to have the last word, and this will be my last post on this thread
as I'm not going into a war of words.

My rebuttal is very simple.

Randalizer: You are eloquent indeed and your style is indeed effective!
But you didn't address the basic issue -
However legal the product is - it has been used in an illegal capacity -nowhere do you address that basic premise
although you appear to do so by including it in your answer - but you didn't actually answer it! ;-)
(but please understand I wish it were not illegal to grow)
I know of no 'criminal' giving away evidence! And I'm not going to appear in the news as the guy who gave it away on a plate!
(I personally don't consider growers as crims, but plod does)

Bodhisattva: I didn't suggest that plod is going to go through waste -
but we do have a post around here of officials going through bins and I have personal experience of it.
Also, I made heavy use of the fact that the equipment is in someone else's control, not yours;
what they do with it can potentially be harmful to you. There simply is no argument to deny that.

I totally respect you both, and your points are as valid as mine are (well, at least I think so!).

Well, I'm going to get my coat, whether it's off to the nick or the nuthouse I don't know!

Keep well guys!

kind regards
vangraffe

I'm embarassed to admit that in 13 years I have only bought 7 lamps - which I still own ..though I have often grown intermittently and for the first 5 years with only one lamp.

I initially bought two ballasts and three Philips Son T plus lamps which lasted a very long time.

I have managed to break an awful lot of CFLs recently , so at some point I will be off to the tip with those and most of my HPS lamps.

I really ought also to get shot of my large collection of 4 foot linears I started out with all those years ago

all anyone would have evidence of is the fact that you touched a light bulb once surely?

the plod aint about to start fingerprinting random bulbs, they fuckers didnt even bother looking for prints at my house when it was burgled!, seriously m8 i wouldnt worry about it, id be more worried about the shop randilzer uses passing them off as new bulbs tbh.

Best and most fun way is to put them in a metal bin with some water ,drop a brick or 2 on them making sure you break the inner glass tube, Hps lamps dont contain mercury they contain sodium ,as in High Pressure Sodium,and we all know wot happens when sodiium and water mix

Yes they do.

So far as I know they start off igniting the argon in them, then the mercury takes over, and eventually the sodium vapourises.

Click to view attachment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_vapor_lamp

I just toss em in the trash with everything else. I'm always sure to put some greasy leftovers, and rotten 'something' along with a few fresh kitty droppings... so if they reeeeeeeeeeeaaaally want to take the time to dig through my trash, and take out a random bulb and prove that I might have touched it.. by all means - go right ahead.

This has to be proved first. My point and the point of others is that this would be very hard to do. Period. Hard enough so that it is not a concern to me, but I do agree that UK folks are better to determine if the same is true for them. I think the majority of posters here are not that concerned. Maybe because they are all doing legal things?

In any case your perspective is not invalid. The great thing about having a garden is being able to do whatever you want.



No one I know is giving anything away, other than practical information.



sadly too true!

well i be buggered,i better redo the cosh and risk assesmet forms first thing monday.
As another idea how about weee

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/busin...n=1&lang=_e

HID and fluorescent lamps need proper disposal as they contain mercury, sure, not a lot but mercury is very nasty shit even in tiny quantities. Putting them in the bin or in a bottle bank is creating an environmental hazard and is inexcusably irresponsible behaviour. I am frankly ashamed to have read most of the last couple of pages of posts in this thread, on this website, filled with people advising others to do this. This kind of behaviour is free ammunition for the prohibitionists if they decide to use it. Especially seeing as these lamps are so easy to get rid of.

In addition to the WEEE regulations, you could walk, cycle, take the bus whatever to the local council tip or even park down the road from it, and they will then be disposed of correctly. Failing that, stores such as IKEA have recycling stations. some of these are "energy saver" specific but they will be dealt with if you put a HID lamp in there.

If you're that paranoid about things that you're worried the police will be investigating correctly disposed of lamps, which I find a preposterous notion, unless you go down with multiple big lamps, get some bog roll and some isopropyl alcohol, vodka, anything solvent and clean the lamp down before you dump it, problem solved.

Spot on Capn'! Thank you for saying that.

Jesus Christ, I am nearly apoplectic here..

Since when has any prohibitionist ever used the mercury argument against weed?

Why is deliberately breaking these bulbs any worse than what whole countries like
China and Japan do? FWIW our 'atrocities' of irresponsible behaviour account for less
than one-millionth of 1 per cent compared to far-eastern countries - on a country for country scale.
If you're going to vent your opinion on irresponsible behaviour then campaign against the true
atrociities of China and Japan.

I am not going to carry the weight of the world's CO2 worries on my shoulders alone, nor that of
one group of people - growers, nor would I expect them to.

What we have done is taken a simple question of how to dispose of bulbs and blown it to this.
You know, we have a lot of very smart, clever and resourceful people here - including all of the
people who have posted here - and we should be focussing our enery (no pun intended) on getting
weed legalised - then it doesn't matter a damn about getting rid of our bulbs ethically and properly.

(There is no intent to slag anyone off here - just to present the argument - and yes I know I said above
about my last post - but this thread got so outrageous for me. ;-) )

vangraffe

Take a deep breath. Breathe. Thats it.





wtf? What valid point does this statement make? None! Just because they haven't (that I know of) doesn't mean the won't. And ethically speaking who gives a rats ass? It's THE WRONG THING TO DO! (dumping lamps irresponsibly)





uhh. No one said it was. It's called taking personal responsibility for your actions.





So?



In the proper topic yes, of course. That is a no brainer. In this topic we are talking about what to do with our lamps. That was the question posed, yes?



I don't think anyone has suggested that. Mearly that we act like responsible citizens of this world rather than like some ignorant trailer trash fucks who don't give a shit.





It's called a discussion.




Apparently you are not one of them.



Oh? We should? 1st off I think getting growers to act like responsible citizens of the world is a great step in PR for legalizing Canna. 2nd, how do you know we are not? 3rd, wtf are you doing about it?






Just shut up.

Ok - I'm stupid and I will shut up.

(Getting coat... gone)

I think you've just got a bit of beginner's nervousness.

14 years on I have to keep reminding myself I'm a hardened criminal.

Top tip TMH I'd never heard of that ... though I suspect it's probably easier for me to just take stuff to the local recycling centre. Cheers for spreading the knowledge

C'mon VG, you're far better than this! So you have different opinions to others ... big deal ... it'd be a right boring world if we all agreed all the time. Take your time, chill ... and don't you dare stop posting in your diary! ... I'm off back there now - only came to this thread to see what the feck was up. It's nothing ... just a bit of first-timer para giving you stress. Hope to see you back in your diary some time soon.

Well VG was good to his word there, never posted since... Bit over the top there randaliser don't you think? This thread seemed to move from discussion to personal attack imho.

anyone who advocates reckless dumping of waste, let alone hazardous waste will not be getting any respect from me.

thats fair enough Randy

but it was a bit harsh ......to rip his post appart and quote so much

you know what.....V feels bullied by you
you could had just made a point
hope your proud

since your in the USoffuckinA.......

Good. He was being stupid and claimed others were stupid for discussing proper disposal methods. The subject of this topic. I'm sick and tired of other people being irresponsible, promoting irresponsibility, and then acting like a baby when someone calls them on it. He should just grow up.

And on that note....