MATERIAL	SPECIFICATIONS	PROCESSING/PACKAGING
Fluorescent Light Tubes Linear Lamps U-Tubes High Density Broken	All lengths, shapes, and sizes of straight and shaped tubes, including tubes with integrated ballasts.	Approved storage containers only.  Packaging Details Palletizing For Shipment Transportation Scheduling Pick Up Pricing
Fluorescent Light Ballasts	All types, but contact us for specific sorting instructions	Approved storage containers only.  Packaging Details Palletizing For Shipment Transportation Scheduling Pick Up Pricing

FLUORESCENT LIGHT TUBE PACKAGING DETAILS
(Click here for a printable copy of these specifications in Adobe Acrobat)

Linear Fluorescent Lamps OEM Boxes Fiber Drums

U-Tubes and Compact Fluorescent Lamps OEM Boxes Fiberboard Containers

High-intensity Discharge (HID) Lamps Steel Drums Fiberboard Containers

Broken Lamps (Fluorescent or HID)

Either Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) boxes or fiber drums can be used to ship linear fluorescent lamps (two-, four-, or eight-foot).

OEM boxes are sturdy corrugated cardboard boxes like those used by lamp manufacturers to ship fluorescents to end users. They typically have inner cardboard separators to keep lamps apart during shipment. If these are available to you, you can use them to ship fluorescents for recycling, or Wuf can supply them via a  Recycling Supplies Purchasing Request.

1. Each box should be filled with only a single diameter lamp. Do not mix lamps of different diameters in a box.
2. When inserting lamps into a box, take care to prevent any breakage. Do not force lamps into the box. When the drum is full, seal with packing tape.
3. If the box is full, it is not necessary to use any extra packaging to secure the lamps. If the box is not full and internal dividers do not securely hold all lamps in place, use cardboard, paper, or bubble wrap to fill any unused space. This excess packaging should be packed tightly enough to prevent lamps from jostling against each other during shipment, but not so tightly that lamps can break.
4. attach a Wuf identification label prior to shipment.

Fiber drums are cylindrical containers manufactured from sturdy fiberboard (see photograph). Wuf Technologies can supply these drums in different sizes if you do not have them available. 

If this is your first time shipping fluorescents with Wuf Technologies, or if you have any questions about whether your own shipping containers are appropriate for transporting fluorescents, please contact Wuf’s offices for additional information regarding fiber drum specifications.

1. Each drum should be filled with only a single diameter lamp. Do not mix lamps of different diameters in a drum.
2. When inserting lamps into a drum, take care to prevent any breakage. Do not force lamps into the drum, or fill the drum beyond its rim. It is easiest to fill, secure, and handle the drum if the drum is left upright, not on its side. When the drum is full, apply the lid and secure with packing tape.
3. If the drum is full, it is not necessary to use any extra packaging to secure the lamps. If the drum is not full, use cardboard, paper, or bubble wrap to fill any unused space. This excess packaging should be packed tightly enough to prevent lamps from jostling against each other during shipment, but not so tightly that lamps can break.
4. Attach a Wuf identification label prior to shipment.

Either Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) boxes supplied by manufacturers, fiberboard drums, or rectangular fiberboard containers can be used to ship U-tube and compact fluorescent lamps.

OEM boxes are sturdy corrugated cardboard boxes used by lamp manufacturers to ship fluorescents to end users. If these are available to you, you may use them to ship fluorescents for recycling, or Wuf can supply them via a Recycling Supplies Purchasing Request.

OEM boxes can safely secure different quantities of U-tubes and compact fluorescents, depending on the type, style, and wattage. 

1. Place lamps inside the box making sure that lamps are laid horizontally to help assure stability. 
2. Use cardboard or crushed paper to separate lamps and eliminate the possibility of breakage. DO NOT tape lamps together before placing them in the box. (This hampers processing, and may result in additional handling charges.) 
3. If the box is not full, use excess cardboard or crushed paper to prevent movement and breakage during handling and transportation. 
4. When the box is full, seal with packing tape, and 
5. Affix a Wuf identification label to the box

Sturdy fiberboard containers — either drums or rectangular containers(create new cropped picture) — (see photograph) can also be used to package U-tubes and compact fluorescents. If these are available to you, you may use them to ship fluorescents for recycling, or Wuf can supply them via a Recycling Supplies Purchasing Request.

Fiberboard drums and containers can safely secure different quantities of U-tubes and compact fluorescents, depending on the type, style, and wattage. 

1. Place lamps inside the container making sure that lamps are laid horizontally to help assure stability. 
2. Use cardboard or crushed paper to separate lamps and eliminate the possibility of breakage. DO NOT tape lamps together before placing them in the container. (This hampers processing, and may result in additional handling charges.) 
3. If the container is not full, use excess cardboard or crushed paper to prevent movement and breakage during handling and transportation. 
4. When the container is ready for shipment, seal with packing tape, and 
5. Affix a Wuf identification label to the container

HID lamps include metal halide, mercury vapor, and high pressure sodium types.

HIDs can be shipped either in fiberboard containers, or in steel U.S. Department of Transportation 17H drums. Wuf recommends steel drums. If these are available to you, you may use them to ship fluorescents for recycling, or Wuf can supply them via a Recycling Supplies Purchasing Request.

Because of wide variance in size and design, the number of lamps per container will vary widely. Wuf requires that HIDs must be shipped in separate containers from fluorescent lamps. Different types of HID can, however, be shipped in a single container. [IS THIS RIGHT, OR SHOULD THEY BE SEPARATED BY TYPE?]

1. Place lamps inside the container making sure that lamps are placed in a way that assures stability of the load and minimizes shifting and settling during transport. 
2. Use cardboard or crushed paper to separate lamps and eliminate the possibility of breakage. DO NOT tape lamps together before placing them in the container. (This hampers processing, and may result in additional handling charges.) It is up to the shipper to determine when the container is full. IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD LAMPS BE FORCED INTO THE CONTAINER. 
3. If the container is not full when it’s ready to be shipped, use excess cardboard or crushed paper to prevent movement and breakage of lamps during handling and transportation. 
4. When the container is full, seal with packing tape (fiber containers), or secure the lid with the steel band and bolt (DOT 17H steel drum). 
5. Affix a Wuf identification label to the container

Broken lamps and ballasts may be shipped in the US DOT 17H 55-gallon steel drum  or in a plastic 5-gallon drum with a screw-on lid. These containers must be securely fastened and clearly labeled to show that the contents are broken mercury-containing lamps. Intact and broken lamps MAY NOT BE MIXED in the same containers. Broken fluorescents must be shipped in separate containers from broken HID lamps.

PALLETIZING BOXES AND DRUMS FOR SHIPMENT

A standard pallet is 48" by 40" or 48" by 42". The term "four way" means that the pallet has forklift or pallet jack slots on all four sides of the pallet. All pallets used for shipping must be sturdy and unbroken. Wuf cannot receive materials shipped on odd sized pallets.

All containers holding fluorescent lamps should be secured to four-way pallets for shipment. Rectangular boxes should be placed on separate pallets from cylindrical drums.

Observe the following procedures for palletizing each type of container:

OEM Boxes

Fiberboard Boxes

Fiberboard Drums

55-Gallon Steel Drum

OEM Boxes and Similar Rectangular Boxes

Do not place eight-foot OEM boxes on pallets. Eight-foot boxes should be kept aside and loaded according to the driver’s instructions.

Four-foot and two-foot OEM boxes must be placed on pallets, either layered and shrink-wrapped, or placed in gaylords which are then shrink-wrapped to the pallet.

	Place four-foot boxes across the bottom of the pallet until boxes fit across the bottom. When stacking subsequent layers of boxes, alternate directions so that each layer is perpendicular to the previous layer.
	Two-foot boxes should be toward the top of the pallet load.
	All boxes containing U-tubes, compact fluorescents, and HID’s should be stacked toward the top of the pallet load.
	Boxes should be stacked no more than five feet high.
	The loaded pallet must be securely shrink wrapped. Start by tying shrink wrap to the pallet, and wrap upwards. Completely wrap the pallet stack tightly so no shifting occurs during loading and transport.
	Two- and four-foot boxes can also be placed into a gaylord box secured to a pallet. In this case, boxes should be placed into the gaylord upright (not lying on the bottom of the gaylord).
	If you do not have enough boxes to fill the gaylord, use cardboard or crumpled paper to consume the excess volume.
	The gaylord should be covered with a lid or cardboard securely taped on.
	The gaylord should be secured to the pallet with shrink wrap, which should also cover the top of the gaylord.
	Apply a Wuf identification label to the shrink-wrapped pallet.

Order  OEM Boxes

Request  Service

Fiberboard Boxes 

	Fiberboard boxes supplied by Wuf Technologies fit four to a pallet, up to two layers high.
	The loaded pallet must be securely shrink wrapped. Start by tying shrink wrap to the pallet, and wrap upwards. Completely wrap the pallet stack tightly so no shifting occurs during loading and transport.
	Apply a Wuf identification label to the shrink-wrapped pallet.

Cylindrical Fiberboard Drums

	Fiberboard drums should be placed upright on pallets. Depending on their diameter, they fit four or six to a pallet.
	Four-foot tall drums should be securely shrink wrapped all around and over the top. Start by securing shrink wrap to the pallet and wrap upwards.
	Eight-foot tall drums should be shrink wrapped up to about four feet high, with one layer of shrink wrap over the top. Start by securing shrink wrap to the pallet and wrap upwards.
	Apply a Wuf identification label to the shrink-wrapped pallet.

Order  Fiberboard Boxes/Drums

Request

55-Gallon Steel Drums (USDOT 17H drums)

	55-gallon steel drums supplied by Wuf Technologies fit three to a pallet, one layer high.
	The loaded pallet must be securely shrink wrapped. Start by tying shrink wrap to the pallet, and wrap upwards. Completely wrap the drums tightly so no shifting occurs during loading and transport.
	Apply a Wuf identification label to the shrink-wrapped pallet.

Order  55-Gallon Steel Drum

Request

TRANSPORTATION

As often as possible, we attempt to pick up fluorescents, ballasts, and/or batteries along with electronic equipment on a single truck, for greater economies. There are frequent exceptions, however. For example, some generators make it a practice to swap out large numbers of lights on a regular schedule, or a firm may generate a large number of tubes when it renovates or re-lamps an entire building. In these cases Wuf can arrange a single full-load pickup.

SCHEDULING

Please give Wuf as much lead time as possible in advance of your required pickup date. More time gives us more choice among markets and transportation options, and translates into the most favorable economics for our clients.

PRICING

Prices vary over time, and are affected by the size and composition of your load and by variable transportation costs. Network members should be aware that (because of their hazardous material content), there is a cost associated with the proper disposal of fluorescent light tubes and ballasts. When you place a request for service, the Wuf will provide a written price quote for your acceptance before scheduling pickup and disposition.

Request  Service

As a standard Wuf service, we’ll keep you updated on current price trends and new developments under our What’s New page. Check it frequently as it can help you decide when to ship in a hurry to take advantage of a price surge, or to hold on to materials when prices drop temporarily.

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