Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This page may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended. There is no additional cost to you whatsoever.
You’re able to spring for a brand-new tv, and now you’re confronted with an issue. What do you do along with your outdated LED or plasma TV?
If it nonetheless works, the best choice is to cross it alongside to somebody who can use it. But whether it is past restore, sending that big TV to the landfill just isn’t a good suggestion. It’s full of chemicals and heavy metals that may contaminate soil and water. Instead, recycling that outdated tv is the suitable path to take.
Let’s take a peek at some avenues for responsibly recycling your tv. Read on to search out out which choice is finest for you.
The Trouble with Trashing TVs
Worldwide, we people generate over 50 million tons of e-waste yearly. The UN Environment Program studies that solely 20% of that waste is formally recycled. Unrecycled e-waste often leads to landfills or incinerators. Sometimes it leads to developing countries that lack the amenities to deal with these supplies safely, endangering staff and the setting.
According to All Green Recycling, plasma TVs are one of the ceaselessly disposed shopper electronics objects. Plasma and LED TVs comprise heavy metals. Metals akin to cadmium, mercury, lead, and copper current health risks to each people and the setting.
In addition to the well being dangers, after we throw an outdated TV within the trash, we waste natural resources. Televisions home some helpful supplies. It’s estimated that one ton of e-waste incorporates 100 times more gold than one ton of gold ore. (Anyone else surprise why we proceed mining for gold if it’s simply sitting in our landfills?)
Obstacles to Recycling TVs
We want lets say you can put your tv out along with your curbside recycling and name it a day. It’s not that easy.
Several obstacles make recycling LED and plasma televisions tough:
- Availability of digital recycling amenities
- Health and issues of safety of e-waste recycling
- Cost of recycling televisions
- Transporting televisions/accessibility for shoppers
Despite e-waste legislation in half of the United States, shoppers nonetheless must do some leg work to get previous these obstacles. Some retailers and producers supply options that make it simpler, thanks, partly, to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA Challenge to Electronics Manufacturers and Retailers
Back in 2012, the EPA issued a problem to electronics producers, model homeowners, and retailers. The Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge inspired these entities to:
- Increase their charges of recovering used electronics from shoppers, companies, and their very own firms.
- Send 100% of their used electronics to third-party licensed e-waste recyclers.
- Share their recycling information with the general public.
Many firms took up the problem. The EPA web site lists companies which have developed e-waste recycling applications.
Finding a Place That Accepts Plasma and LED TVs
Some retailers will take your outdated TV for recycling once you buy a brand new one, although there’s usually a price. For instance, Best Buy expenses $29.99 for this service. Samsung will settle for any model of TV for trade-in once you buy a brand new Samsung TV. Some producers, akin to Vizio, assist everlasting drop-off areas by means of retailers or nonprofit organizations.
Check with particular person firms to see what their coverage is for accepting e-waste. Many of the businesses listed on the EPA website settle for even opponents’ digital merchandise without cost. However, there’s nearly at all times a price for televisions, whether or not they’re older fashions or newer plasma and LED fashions.
Do Curbside Recyclers Take Plasma or LED TV?
Curbside recycling applications, typically, settle for paper, plastics, metals, and glass, however not electronics. Electronics recycling requires specialized equipment and security precautions that curbside recyclers simply don’t have.
Some curbside recyclers or municipalities might settle for your TV for a price. They will choose up and ship your TV to an electronics recycler. Expect to pay someplace between $25 and $40 relying on the scale of your tv.
Another choice is to attend for an e-recycling occasion close by. These are sometimes hosted by native departments of public works, boards of well being, or as fundraisers for group organizations.
Work With E-cyclers That Ethically Recycle Electronics
As if the entire course of isn’t tough sufficient, we do have a phrase of warning when trying to have your tv recycled correctly.
Much of the e-waste within the U.S (and different developed international locations) will get exported to creating international locations. There, e-waste recycling staff are exposed to unsafe materials and practices that negatively have an effect on their well being. Unsafe recycling practices influence the native setting as properly.
Fortunately, yow will discover respected electronics recycling amenities by in search of one among two certifications. The EPA recommends that e-waste recyclers get licensed by means of the Responsible Recycling (R2) Standard for Electronics Recyclers or the e-stewards standard. E-waste recyclers with these certifications decide to refurbishing electronics, if doable, and to utilizing strategies that safely and effectively recycle digital elements for reuse.
Recycling E-waste Isn’t Easy, But It’s Worth the Effort
It’s not a easy activity to recycle your outdated plasma or LED TV responsibly. But, once you care about environmental and human well being and never losing sources, it’s a straightforward choice.
