Dispose of Television Sets
Your old, outdated television set should not be thrown out with the trash or left out for dump collection. That's because old TVs contain toxic chemicals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and more. These chemicals are detrimental to human and environmental health, and they need to be dealt with safely. Instead of throwing it in the trash, you can Dispose-of-Television-Sets at a recycle center or participating electronics store. You can also Dispose-of-Television-Sets any working TV.
Contents
Steps
Recycling Your TV
- Call your local waste disposal company. It's illegal to leave TVs and other electronics out for trash pickup, but your local waste disposal company probably has a system set up to let you drop off old TVs on site so they can be recycled. Give your local company a call to find out the protocol.
- Depending on the location, the company may require you to show proof of residency, such as a driver's license or utility bill.
- Most of these centers accept TVs and other items, such as cameras, small appliances, phones, CD players and photocopiers.
- Locate a recycling program in your area. Many cities and towns have private electronics recycling programs. Some offer the option of picking up your old TV so you don't have to bring it in. This can be a useful offer, since old TVs tend to be extremely heavy.
- One option to check out is aslrecycling.com, which has listings of electronics recycling programs.
- Research programs at electronics stores. Some big electronics stores, such as BestBuy, offer free or low-cost electronics recycling. Call electronics stores or check online to see if your TV meets the requirements for free recycling.
- Return the used television to the manufacturer. Some manufacturers will accept your old television and related components, then recycle the products themselves.
- Generally, you must search for the nearest designated drop-off site online and follow the guidelines according to the company. For example, a manufacturer may have a weight limit for the televisions it will accept.
- Some companies may offer free recycling services to consumers and businesses, while others may charge a fee.
Donating or Selling Your TV
- Donate a television to a nonprofit agency.If the TV still works well, but you just want to buy a new, updated television, then donate your current television to a church or community center. National groups, such as the Salvation Army, and similar organizations often accept electronics that are still in good condition.
- Many donation centers will deliver or sell your old television to a family in need.
- You may also consider lending the TV to a friend or a relative for them to reuse.
- Contact local schools, homeless shelters or nursing homes to see if they could use an old TV.
- Sell the television set. Find an online or a newspaper classified and advertise the TV for sale. You won't be able to sell it for the same price you paid for it, but you may be able to recoup a small amount.
- You could also try selling your TV at a yard or garage sale. Offer free delivery if you're having trouble moving it off your lawn.
- If it's not in working condition, you may be able to sell it to a local theater so they can use it as a prop.
Tips
- To avoid exposure to chemicals, such as lead or mercury, manufacturers or recyclers use furnaces or similar machines to destroy the chemicals before reusing or disposing the material.
- Before disposing of your television set, review the product manual to determine whether you can repair or upgrade the TV.
- Online organizations provide listings of reputable recycling centers. The Environmental Protection Agency also offers a list of resources for recycling televisions and other electronics.
- When visiting a recycling drop-off center, make sure to ask questions to ensure the facility follows state and local recycling laws. Find out whether they send materials to centers that specialize in hazardous waste.
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