next topic »

[on:]

I have several IC tubes that used to have ATMEGA328 in them. They are nice so I don't want to just toss them away. Is ther any way to recycle them?

[Reply #1 on:]

Town recycling bin?

[Reply #2 on:]

I will probably do that. So there is nowhere that takes these tubes and reuse them then?

[Reply #3 on:]

I suppose you could send them to a US distributor, like Digikey, they are out your way, yes? In MN?

[Reply #4 on:]

I suppose you could send them to a US distributor, like Digikey, they are out your way, yes? In MN?

Yes, they are not far away. I'll call them. Every time I get 112 ATMEGA328P-PU, I end up with 8 tubes eventually. I hope they take them back.

[Reply #5 on:]

Sell them on eBay as "Used, Like New".

[Reply #6 on:]

http://www.freecycle.org/

[Reply #7 on:]

IIRC, they're HDPE and as such easily recyclable. But re-use is definitely better. I'd inquire with the local artists asylum, schools, etc. to see if anyone needs such tubes. Good luck!

[Reply #8 on:]

They are about 500K ohms/foot if you want to make a really big linear potentiometer.

[Reply #9 on:]

They are about 500K ohms/foot if you want to make a really big linear potentiometer.

That's not a bad idea! Thanks.

[Reply #10 on:]

When I was a kid my dad used to being IC's in some plastic tubes they were in TO-220 package and after he got all those out I took the tubes and then used to make something from them like installing 3-6v motors along with a switch and driving the system as a train, so it may come in handy for example you can cut the plastic out of it to use for some rough development or make a quadcopter with it.

[Reply #11 on:]

I constantly amaze myself that I still occaisionally fold these tubes in half and cram it into my rubbish bag hanging on the end of the bench.

I should know from many years experience, that they have this Houdini knack of unfolding and flicking rubbish over the floor during their escape !

[Reply #12 on:]

IIRC, they're HDPE and as such easily recyclable. But re-use is definitely better. I'd inquire with the local artists asylum, schools, etc. to see if anyone needs such tubes. Good luck!

Recyclable plastics carry a symbol, a dotted rounded triangle-ish thing with a number inside. Without that, the recycling center can't determine what your material is made of and at least in my area, unmarked or unacceptable material ends up in the garbage bin.

I suspect that IC tubes are not recyclable due to the metallization used to make them conductive, but it's worth a look to see if they have a recycling symbol. Better to re-purpose if you can!

[Reply #13 on:]

I'd be surprised if Digikey wouldn't just reuse them.

[Reply #14 on:]

I'd be surprised if Digikey wouldn't just reuse them.

I suspect these chips come with these tubes already. So there is little point getting old ones and reuse them. They all carry ATMEL symbol. I'll contact them. I have about a dozen these tubes now.