RE: Disposal of Electron Tubes

[Montgom_N@msa01.brooks.af.mil]

Tad_Blanchard@ccmail.gsfc.nasa.gov wrote:

>Good Day RADSAFERs:

>This has probably cropped up before, but I would like to get the proper 
>information on what to do with old electron tubes which contain small 
>amounts of Cobalt-60, Cesium-137, etc.  

>When I was in the USAF, a Technical Order allowed us to dispose of them 
>as "ordinary trash", as long as the tube was placed into its original 
>box when thrown out.

This information is based on 10 CFR 30.15 that exempts certain electron
tubes from the requirements of 10 CFR Part 20.  Note that the T.O. 
specified
that single electron tubes could be disposed of as normal trash, but 
accumulated
tubes had to be disposed of as waste.

>At my facility here at NASA, our Radiation Safety Committee mandated 
>that we collect all old tubes and place them in "holding" status and 
>dispose of them as radioactive waste whenever our disposal broker makes 
>a pickup.  Disposing of the tubes in this way will insure that we do not 
>place ANY radioactive materials in local landfills.

This is based in state or local requirements (I assume) that prohibit 
disposing of (any) radioactive materials in the landfill.

>These are two extremes.  

>WHAT IS THE PROPER (LEGAL) WAY TO DISPOSE OF THIS TYPE OF WASTE? 

Per NRC regulations you could still throw these away as normal trash.
However:
You have to follow the rules of the jurisdiction where you live.
If they prohibit disposal of any waste in the landfill, then you
must dispose of these tubes as radioactive waste.

Also be cautioned that some tubes contain heavy metals or other
hazardous materials.

Noel D. Montgomery, Capt, USAF, BSC, CHP
Health Physicist
USAF Radioisotope Committee Secretariat
montgom_n@msa01.brooks.af.mil
montyhp@aol.com