How to Recycle TVs: Environmentally Responsible Options
TVs can be recycled, and while the process may involve some legwork, it’s often reasonably
easy—and easily worth the trouble compared with the alternative.
An unwanted TV can feel like an albatross around your neck, especially if it’s an
old cathode-ray tube (CRT) set, which tends to be heavier and bulkier than newer TVs.
Yet there are a few ways to responsibly dispose of a TV, depending largely on the TV’s condition
and your location. If the TV still works, the best option may be to sell or donate it
rather than skipping ahead to recycling. If it doesn’t work, though, or if you have
difficulty finding someone who wants it, you still have other environmentally responsible
options. Like many electronic devices, TVs contain
a variety of materials such as plastic, heavy metals, and other toxins that can pose a pollution
risk if not dealt with properly. Recycling of TVs and other e-waste is required by law
in 25 U.S. states, and in some states, TVs are banned from landfills entirely. Even if
you face no legal consequences for tossing a TV into the trash, however, there are also
practical and ethical reasons why recycling is a better decision.
Here is a closer look at TV recycling, including how you can get your TV to a recycling center,
how the recycling process actually works, and how you can find new uses for an old TV
that still has life left in it. How to Recycle TVs
TVs may be recyclable, but that doesn’t mean they can go in your curbside recycling
bin. It is a good idea to check if your local recycling or waste-management authority accepts
e-waste in some form, like special pickup days or drop-off events; just don’t expect
it to be quite as easy as putting out your weekly paper and plastic recycling.
While some electronic devices like cell phones are commonly free to recycle, be ready to
pay a fee for TV recycling. That might seem unfair: You’re giving away a TV full of
useful materials to be recycled and reused, so why should you have to pay anything?
There are valuable materials inside a TV, but generally in small quantities that require
significant effort to extract. Combined with the bulky size and heavy weight of many TVs,
this adds expense to the recycling process. CRTs can be particularly troublesome, since
they contain lead and must be dismantled by hand rather than shredded. The fee for recycling
a TV is typically modest or at least manageable, though, and it’s a one-time cost versus
the ongoing cost to environmental health from disposing of a TV improperly.
Drop-Off Recycling a TV often means physically transporting
it somewhere, but before you lug it around, be sure to bundle up and tie the power cord
so no one trips while carrying it. If the TV is especially large or heavy, consider
asking someone to help you carry it. But where? You could start by checking with
your local sanitation authority—ask if there are any nearby drop-off locations that accept
e-waste for recycling. Some recycling sites accept only certain devices and not large
TVs, so ask specifically if they’ll take your type and size of TV. Ask about any fees,
too, so you’ll be prepared before you arrive. In addition to permanent drop-off sites, ask
if there are any special collection days or recycling events in which TVs are accepted.
Some electronics retailers also offer take-back programs. Best Buy takes many e-waste items
free of charge, for example, but charges a $30 fee for TVs. (There are no store drop-off
fees in California, according to the company’s website, and no TVs are accepted for recycling
at Best Buy stores in Connecticut or Pennsylvania.) Best Buy will also pick up an old TV from
your home in some places—it charges $30 and up if the pickup is part of a home delivery
of a new TV, or $100 to pick up your old TV without a qualifying purchase of a new one.
Many other retailers also accept certain kinds of e-waste for recycling, but that doesn’t
always include all TVs, so call first. The manufacturer of your TV might be able
to help, too. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists several examples on its
page about electronics donation and recycling. Some manufacturers accept old TVs by mail
(see below), while others partner with outside recycling centers or drop-off sites.
Samsung, Sony, LG, and Vizio work with Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), for example,
which accounts for about 5% of all e-waste recycled in the U.S., according to its website.
ERI offers a locator tool to help you figure out which nearby drop-off sites accept which
types of e-waste, as does the Electronic Manufacturers Recycling Management Company (MRM), which
can help you find drop-off sites for recycling TVs by brands including Mitsubishi, Panasonic,
Philips, Sharp, and Toshiba. Mail-In Recycling
Many manufacturers now offer mail-in TV recycling programs through their e-waste recycling partners.
Both LG and Sony send you to ERI’s website, as do other major TV makers partnered with
MRM. Once there, you can enter your ZIP code and TV brand, select your TV from a list,
enter its estimated weight, and print a prepaid shipping label. TVs from lesser-known brands
may have mail-back options, too—if you have an Atyme, Element, or Sceptre TV, for instance,
you might be able to mail it back for recycling through Wisconsin-based Dynamic Lifecycle
Innovations. Ways to Reuse Old TVs
If your TV still works, your outlook for responsibly discarding it is even better. The same recycling
options still apply, but you might also be able to find someone who will take it for
free, as long as it’s in decent condition. You could start by asking family, friends,
and neighbors if they want your TV, or by calling thrift stores and charities to see
if they’ll take it. Some charity retail stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and
Habitat for Humanity accept certain types of working TVs, but call before you take it
there. Some charities also accept or even pick up
certain TVs for donation, including the Vietnam Veterans of America and some local kidney
charities like Atlanta-based American Kidney Services, which supports the American Kidney
Fund. If you aren’t sure where to begin, a group
called Donation Town can help connect you with a charity that might want your TV.