I have NEVER had a CRT tube "explode" on me. Just gently tap the skinny glass tube that the yoke slides over and it will break off cleanly and you will hear a hiss or woosh as air is sucked back into the tube. No flying debris ever. To dispose of them I place the whole tube into an old bird feed sack that my father saves for me. Once the tube is in the bag I whack it with a hammer a couple of times and end up with a sack of broken glass. I can sometimes get 3-4 CRT's into one bag all broken up if they are small.



I then tape the bag closed and write "picture tube glass" on it and place it in the curbside recycling can.