Don’t throw away your television
Our growing dependence on electronics products both at home and in the workplace has given rise to a new environmental challenge: electronic waste. A recent study by the U.S. EPA shows that electronics already make up approximately 1 percent on the municipal solid waste stream. Research indicates that electronic waste is growing at three times the rate of other municipal waste.
According to the U.S. EPA, over 20 million personal computers became obsolete in 1998 and only 13% were reused or recycled.
Electronic circuit boards, batteries, and color cathode ray tubes (CRTs) can contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury and hexavalent chromium. If improperly handled or disposed, these toxins can be released into the environment through landfill leachate or incinerator ash.
In just one year, over 112 million pounds of valuable materials were recovered from disposed electronics for recycling and reuse. Materials includes steel, glass, plastic and precious metals.
Don’t throw away your television. Recycle it! In the “Find a Recycling Center” box at the top of this page,type in Television on the left, type in your zip code on the right, hit enter, and view the results.
pkamysz
posted on May 28th, 2007 at 10:44 am
I have a TV, stereo system and speakers that I’d love to recycle but Staples does not accept these types of electronics. I don’t want to throw them in the trash, so are there any other ideas for proper disposal or recycling in the greater Seattle area?
playmytune
posted on June 12th, 2007 at 6:09 pm
I would also like to find out where to take old televisions. I have one that is very big and would like to recycle it. I live in the McHenry, IL area.
catsav
posted on June 23rd, 2007 at 7:27 am
playmytune: Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (swalco.org) does electronics recycling events all the time. Check their website for dates and locations. You can take your TV to one of their electronics collections.
cynthia
posted on August 12th, 2007 at 11:37 am
I want to dispose of tv in Bellevue, WA, zipcode 98005. Any suggestions as to where and how to do this in an earth friendly way? Thanks
Mark Rappaport
posted on August 13th, 2007 at 9:23 am
Cynthia, in the “Find a Recycling Center” box at the top of this page,type in Television on the left, type in your zip code on the right, hit enter, and view the results. If you have any problem finding a location to take your TV send me an email.
cjc9024
posted on August 27th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Once I paid $100 to a Dallas recycling center to get rid of a TRUCKLOAD of computer stuff that I picked up from my suburban community - monitors, PC cases full of motherboards and hard drives, printers, etc. But that place would also NOT TAKE A TV! I asked why, since they took computer monitors and they are almost like a TV. As far as I know the electronics is the same, but a TV includes a tuner. Maybe the tuner has a special chemical in it that computer monitors don’t. That’s the only explanation I can think of.
I live in Fort Worth now and haven’t found out if they actually take TV’s. It’s disappointing that Staples won’t. If I type in “Television” and my zip code, I only get links to Goodwill, and they only take WORKING TVs.
By 2009 there is going to be a HUGE problem - when TV goes from analog to digital, and now millions of analog TVs will be obsolete - where is the government program to recycle these? I’m thinking of writing my congresspersons and senators about this issue..I suggest you do the same.
Toxic Electronics : Do It Green : A home for exploring how to make our homes and neighborhoods more environmentally friendly
posted on August 31st, 2007 at 11:21 am
[...] prevention. If you don’t know where to go, check the internet for electronic recycling resources. Don’t Throw Away Your Television has a search engine that can help find recycling centers in your [...]
mcwattc
posted on September 26th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
Why is it always (usually) assumed that old TVs have to go into waste. What are the options for very functional TV besides waste?
tv recycling
posted on April 27th, 2008 at 8:30 am
[...] recycling Center??? box at the top of this page,type in Television on the left, type in your zip …http://earth911.com/blog/2007/04/19/throw-away-your-television/Electronics Recycling - Television, Cell Phone, Computer Monitor RecyclingLet Creative recycling [...]
where can i throw away an old computer
posted on May 9th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
[...] 19th, 2007. 9 Comments. old School Television Our growing dependence on electronics products …http://earth911.com/blog/2007/04/19/throw-away-your-television/Don’t Throw Away Your Old Computer - Make Money, Save Money - Seeking AlphaDon’t throw away Your old [...]
Dennis
posted on October 28th, 2008 at 4:52 am
I have heard that old picture tubes, such as in my 84 Mitsubishi, and my 85 Quasar, had mercury in their picture tubes, which I have been told is why many had lifetime warranties, and why my Mitsubishi has never needed a picture tube replacement. I would also like to find places that will take good picture tubes, perhaps for use in other vintage sets - as these picture tubes are expensive to buy, and probably hard to find. I have finally ordered a Toshiba LCD 19″, as it will save about half the energy cost of my 19″ Mitsubishi - which had its first repair ever a year or two ago - a tuner - which is what it apparently needs again.
I am still not convinced I will like the picture on the Toshiba as much as my old Mitsubishi - I may end up getting in repaired again after all, and giving the new Toshiba to my mom, or using it elsewhere.
Renee
posted on November 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I also have a problem with were to get rid of my old televisions. I have two very large non-working 32″ TVs that I would like to get rid of. The two places mentioned on Earth911 (Office Depot) only take TVs 19″ and smaller. Any ideas?
Doris
posted on November 15th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I have a 32 Tv does not work can not find a recycling place where can I take the Tv at. Please help me find a recycing.I live in Houston ,Texas 77015
David
posted on November 19th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Your e-waste recycle provider should take your TV. I hate it when an organization accepts all of your valuable computers and like and refuses TV’s. Then the local government must pay someone like my self to recycle your TV at your expense. Think of it this way, every two or three computers can pay the proper disposal of a television. So use a provider that chargers minimal for TV’s and accepts all e-waste. They are soldiers of proper electronics recycling, and are not becoming millionaires overnight by illegally exporting e-waste.
If Santa Brings Your Home a New Digital TV, What Will You Do with your Old One? | Albuquerque Real Estate News
posted on December 5th, 2008 at 11:51 am
[...] can search through Earth 911’s database of recycling, disposal, and donation alternatives. Just enter your ZIP code and get a list of options instantly. There are several for ABQ! Need more? Look through the [...]
AL
posted on December 10th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Hello there. If you have an old tv with the two little screws in the back for antenna connection you can connect a $1 little thing called a transformer. It connects to the two little screws and has a female coaxial connector which you can connect to your cable or to a DTV box thereby you can KEEP USING your current tv instead of having to get rid of it until the lifetime of that tv or until you decide to get rid of it! just a FYI! :)
AK
posted on December 30th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Yet again, I found no recycling programs other than donation to the local thrift store in Alaska. Office Depot was listed as having a Tech Recycling Program through this site. When I called, they stated the program does not run in Alaska….I have a TV, computer and monitor that are inoperable. I am stuck with either throwing them in the trash or paying $50 each to put them in the hazardous waste recycling program which happens once or twice a year…I hate to say it but I cannot afford to pay $150 to recycle these items (all of which were given to us and quit working shortly after). I am torn between trashing them and recycling them.
%%^^&&*%^&*
posted on January 1st, 2009 at 2:59 pm
What does copper do to the environment when it is leaked from batteries? I am asking u because i am not able to figure out! also, what else leaks out of batteries that causes carcinogens? Email me!