Thanks for the information, Smiley. When we went to get the tubes for the kitchen they told us they would not take the old tubes after we bought the new ones, but then when we went to pay for them the gal said well, this Christmas Eve, so I will take the old tubes. I was relieved at that, because I didn't want to have to take them home to try to dispose of them.
When she was telling me she wouldn't take the tube, she said that they do take the twisties though, and I assume that they dispose of them properly. I am surprised the public is not educated better about the proper disposal of the twisties. One nice thing also is that they last almost forever before burning out/failing!