Abstract: Method for disaggregating closed glass members containing pollutants, such as picture tubes or gas discharge tubes, into recyclable constituents, whereby the glass members are separated according to glass types, such as front and cone glass of picture tubes and glass of gas discharge tubes, and into other constituents, particularly metallic and ceramic constituents, and the materials that represent pollutants for the purpose of a recycling are disposed of, whereby complete glass members are disaggregated into palm-sized pieces, in that, subsequently, at least that part of the pollutants released and/or disassociated upon disaggregation of the glass members is separated from the glass fragments and from the remaining parts, and in that the steps of separating magnetic metals, of separating non-magnetic metals, of sorting opaque materials such as ceramic, pottery, stone and/or porcelain parts out, and of separating the various glass types are implemented in corresponding separating means.

Abstract: A ballast for energizing a pair of fluorescent lamps in response to power supplied by an AC line, includes a capacitor connected between one of a pair of heater winding leads which connect to a filament contained in one of the fluorescent lamps, and one of a pair of leads associated with a primary winding of the ballast, the primary winding leads being connected to the AC line. The present ballast realizes a substantial reduction in the amount of power consumed from the AC line when compared to operation of the ballast without the added capacitor.