Recycle that Old TV

With all these new TV technologies out now, chances are you’ve already replaced your old tube TV, or at least have given it some serious thought. So now the question might be, “What do I do with my old set?” Most places will not allow you to simply throw it away anymore. Many landfills will also not allow them either. Tube TVs can contain as much as 8 pounds of lead. If these TVs are just thrown into a landfill, that lead will eventually contaminate the soil, and make its way back to us.

So now that we know the hazards of just throwing out your old TV, again we must ask: “What to do with my old set?” The easiest way to dispose of it is to have one of many companies come pick it up to dispose of it. While this typically isn’t a free service, it is very convenient to have someone come to your home and haul it away. Before you do this, be sure you know what the company will do with the TV once they have it. There are a few companies out there who will just ship your old set overseas, where it will not be disposed of properly.

Call your city or county to see if they have a drop off location, or someplace you can take the TV. You may also check out the EPA’s website. They have a list of companies that participate in e-recycling or recycling consumer electronics products. You can check out their website here. Once there, you can click on the links and learn more about each company’s recycling program.

There may also be some local charities that will take your old television for recycling. This will still require you to load up the old set and drive it to the recycle location, but shouldn’t cost you anything.

Whatever you do, just make sure that the TV is disposed of properly. There are many programs out there that can help you in your quest to be green! If you're looking for a replacement, check out our rankings of the best TVs on the market.