Recycling Your Old TV is a Good Option

If you still have an old CRT television or a plasma TV lying around the house, then you may be thinking of what to do with it. After all, most people have moved on to 1080p HDTVs, and many Canadians even own Smart TVs with ultra 4K resolution. As such, you may be thinking of upgrading to the latest and greatest television set on the market, but what are you going to do with your hefty, monolithic CRT or plasma TV from the 1990s or early 2000s? Old television sets are not only hard to dispose of, but you simply can’t toss them to the curb or into the trash. Here, we discuss why recycling your old television set is a very good option.

What Old TVs Consist Of

In the past, TVs were built in two ways. Originally, they were constructed with cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Essentially, CRTs were pyramid shaped units that made up the majority of the television set, while a TV screen was affixed to the facade of the set. CRT TVs were constructed to be very large pieces, but were unfortunately also very fragile. This proved to be a serious problem, given the hazardous waste materials that were housed within CRT sets.

For instance, simply the glass that encapsulated CRT sets could contain up to 10 pounds of malevolent lead. Typical CRT sets also contained very toxic heavy metals as well as cadmium-based phosphorus, which could prove fatal if ingested. What’s more, many CRT TVs are simply chucked into landfills where they can sit for several decades, polluting the earth, air, and water with their poisonous chemicals and materials.

Another problem with CRT TVs is that many people simply let them sit around the house or don’t bother to properly dispose of them because they are very heavy, with some models weighing in excess of 100 pounds.

As for flat screen TVs, while they don’t contain lead-filled glass, they still contain many dangerous and hazardous materials and toxins in their electronic components. Flat screen TVs also contain numerous circuit boards, plastics, wood, and copper wiring that need to be properly recycled. It should also be noted that old CRTs used to be dismantled to extract their components in order to make money.

Many recovery and recycling companies took advantage of the high price of metals in the past and were able to melt down the lead containing glass tubes in order to fabricate new CRTs. However, those days are long gone, and alternative methods must be implemented in order to properly dispose of them today.

How to Properly Get Rid of Your Old Television Set

In some cases, you can simply return your old TV to the retailer that you bought it from or the manufacturer. If you are in doubt, contact their customer service team. Many big-box retailers and electronics manufacturers have take-back programs that allow customers to return old electronic items to them at zero cost. In fact, the items can even be defective or not work at all.

However, if the retailer or manufacturer does not accept its old TV sets, then you have other options. For instance, certain retailers, such as Staples and Best Buy, offer collection programs whereby people can contact them in order to have their old flat screen TV sets recycled.

In fact, Best Buy started its electronic waste (e-waste) program in 2009, and has recycled over a billion pounds worth of electronic waste since then. Best Buy used to collect old television sets for free, which meant they took on the costs required to recycle the old TVs. However, they currently charge $25 in order to recycle a television set, so this may not be the best option for some consumers.

You can also donate your television set to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. They say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so why not donate your old TV instead of sending it to a local dump? There are many organizations, programs, and schools that are strapped for cash and could use an old television set, and many will even come to your home and do all the heavy lifting so that you don’t have to lift a finger.

Junk Removal Companies

However, the most eco-friendly way to properly dispose of an old TV set is to recycle it. This is particularly the case if your old TV has several defects or doesn’t work at all. Furthermore, the easiest and most convenient way to recycle your old TV set is to call a local junk removal company. Junk removal companies specialize in removing unwanted electronic items from residential and commercial properties, and many practice eco-friendly recycling methods that ensure most of the e-waste is recycled in order to reduce waste and pollution.

All you need to do is email or call them and they will come directly to your home or office and remove all unwanted items from your property in a timely, efficient, and safe manner. Most are also fully licensed and bonded, so you do not have to worry about any property damage or other such mishaps.

Gorilla Bins

At Gorilla Bins we go bananas over junk. We provide reliable and fast disposal bin rental services in the GTA. Furthermore, not only do we offer a wide range of junk bin sizes, but we also offer pick-up options and delivery as well upon request. We also offer dump trucks in order to pick up and deliver cleanfill material. At Gorilla Bins we are strongly committed to providing our discerning clientele with the best recycling and waste disposal services in Toronto, all while providing exceptional customer service and quality that is affordable. If you would like to learn more about our eco-friendly e-waste removal and recycling services, please visit our website. You can also reach us at 877-700-2467.