AFB and plastic

[PeeVee]

First off, I hope no one ever needs to deal with AFB. But, while my mind was wandering around I started thinking about that horror. Bad enough to deal with AFB on wax foundation, wooden frames, and wooden hive bodies. Burning being the best solution. Now with the proliferation of plastic foundation, plastic frames and plastic hive bodies, what are your feelings of burning and the additional hydrocarbons floating into the air?

Just for the record I'm keeping with wood as I've not seen plastic trees except in amusement parks.

[sqkcrk]

When, as an Apiary Inspector in NY, we ran across this situation, the prescribed disposal method was deep burial. Meaning below plow depth or deeper, if possible. In some cases, disposal in a landfill was authorized.

One AFB case we had, which didn't have any plastic involved, had so much diseased material that burning in a hole would have required a backhoe, which the department wouldn't pay for, so we took many truck loads to the local landfill, which was due to be closed soon. Which meant that the landfill wouldn't be turned over, as they do when new trash is added.

[PCM]

I don't know and to be honest really not worried about it.

Let's see pvc pipe in home, automobile about 50 % plastic, plastic watch band, typing on a plastic keyboard, speakers, printer, computer case, monitor,garbage cans, plastic siding on house, plastic pacemaker and port in my body.

You can probably add to the list !

Plastic every where, think I will run out and hug a plastic tree, if I can get past all those plastic Flamingos.

PCM

[Jack Grimshaw]

Years ago I burned an AFB hive with plastic foundation.Thick black smoke.I felt very guilty.Never again.
The next one was double plastic bagged and went to the landfill. I'm not sure if that met local regulations.
If I have the situation again I will scrape the foundation clean and burn the scrapings.
Is Pierco recyclable?

[Michael B]

I just learned that a company near me irradiates bee equipment. My friend who is a sideliner just had a number of his equipment done this way. Nice option to have rather than burning.

Usually this is done as a part of a local bee club doing a group irradiation.

Great for used equipment. I passed on a great deal last spring because of AFB fears. The deal was 100+ deeps w/ drawn comb, 300+ supers w/ drawn comb, bottom boards, inner covers, and outer covers. All were in decent shape and painted regularly for $750. I passed. Irradiation would have been a great option.

[PeeVee]

Thanks for that info Michae B.

I also plan on bringing up the subject at the next local meeting. Maybe someone there has info in irradiating hives.

[NewbeeNnc]

North Carolina has a gas chamber at NC State that is for gassing equipment. Only state that I know of that has one of these. You can have an inspector come and pick up your equipment and they will take it, gas it, and bring it back.

[Jim 134]

First off, I hope no one ever needs to deal with AFB. But, while my mind was wandering around I started thinking about that horror. Bad enough to deal with AFB on wax foundation, wooden frames, and wooden hive bodies. Burning being the best solution. Now with the proliferation of plastic foundation, plastic frames and plastic hive bodies, what are your feelings of burning and the additional hydrocarbons floating into the air?

Just for the record I'm keeping with wood as I've not seen plastic trees except in amusement parks.

Do you have beekeeping equipment that might be infected with American Foulbrood? Find a irradiation program
This is an effective way of killing all of the spores
without damaging your equipment, including frames with wax foundation.


BEE HAPPY Jim 134

[S&H]

"...I will scrape the foundation clean..."

That was one of the most gross things I've ever done. Putrid larva juice in the face, yuck.

I washed up and went and bought a cheap face shield to finish, but I doubt I'll scrape them again should there ever be a recurrence.

[sqkcrk]

I also plan on bringing up the subject at the next local meeting. Maybe someone there has info in irradiating hives.

Aaron Morris, of bee-L.com and SABA(Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association) had info at one time on Irradiation Facilities in PA and MA.

NY State Apiculturalist Paul Cappy may have that info too. 1-518-457-2087.

You may find the expense is more than you want to pay, I don't know. I do recall that one has to have an amount of equipment to fill a certain size container before it is worthwhile for the irradiation company to find it worthwhile.

If you do find out about Irradiation as a means of dealing w/ AFB, perhaps you will share it w/ the rest of us.

Best of luck.

[Merlyn Votaw]

I have been told that WF has a steam jackettled kettle they use Same thing hospitals use to clean surgical tools with but larger

[Buffalolick]

At what point would you go from burning frames to burning entire hive?

[PeeVee]

Jim134 - I don't suspect AFB at this time. This was a question that was meant to spark conversation on the subject and compare different practices.

sqkcrk - I certainly will post any information I find outside this forum.

I've been reading "Advanced Bee Culture" by William Z. Hutchinson. How they dealt with AFB at the turn of the century. Then I started thinking about plastic and the environmental impact both of producing the equipment and then the potentially necessary elimination.

Bad enough that I incorporate 1" construction foam in my outer cover.

[Jim 134]

"...I will scrape the foundation clean..."

That was one of the most gross things I've ever done. Putrid larva juice in the face, yuck.

I washed up and went and bought a cheap face shield to finish, but I doubt I'll scrape them again should there ever be a recurrence.

Scrapeing will not kiil AFB


BEE HAPPY Jim 134