We all want the latest and greatest technology, especially when it comes to larger, clearer televisions and monitors.
So when it’s time to toss out your old junker, there are a couple of things you should know before you pitch it in the nearest dumpster.
Consider recycling it instead!
CAN I RECYCLE MY OLD TV OR MONITOR AT COHEN?
Yes. All TVs and monitors, as well as other electronics, can be dropped off at any Cohen Recycling Center. Find a recycling center near you.
All brands, ages, and sizes of televisions and monitors can be recycled at Cohen.
- CRT (cathode ray tube) Televisions
- LED or LCD TVs
- Plasma Televisions
- Flat Screen Televisions
- Rear Projection TVs
- Desktop monitors (flat screen or CRT)
Is there a fee for recycling my tv?
Fees are subject to vary, but you can expect to pay $0.50-70 per pound to recycle a TV or monitor, depending on the size, type, and condition it’s in.
All fees are payable in cash at the payment window.
Tip: To help offset the cost of recycling your TV, we recommend that before bringing it in, check around the house to see if you have any other metal or electronic scrap that you can take at the same time. The value of that scrap may not be equivalent to the fee for the TV, but can still net you a discount. You can also follow us on Facebook to learn about upcoming community electronics recycling drives.
How can I recycle my television responsibly?
E-waste is a growing concern within the electronics and recycling industries. As new innovations emerge, the tech from six months ago piles up high in landfills. But because of the harmful elements found in even the newer models, many states and municipalities have made it illegal to toss these heavy entertainment appliances in the trash.
But how do we take control of that situation? How can we help preserve the environment?
- Determine if it’s reusable: Before you decide to trash your television or monitor, see if it’s potentially reusable or fixable.
- If it can’t be repaired and there’s no secondary use for it, bring it into an electronics recycling center like Cohen. A recycling center will ensure that the devices are properly and responsibly handled to prevent environmental harm during the recycling process.
What materials and parts are recyclable?
These recyclable materials are typically found in televisions and monitors:
Depending on the condition, these components are potentially reusable:
- Remote Controls
- Circuit Boards
- Screens
Why is there a push for recycling?
When the global switch from analog to digital broadcasting occurred, it left most households with no other option but to dispose of older televisions that could not receive digital signals. However, given how long most families use a TV, many had no idea how to go about getting rid of one. Before long, charitable donation centers like Goodwill were overflowing with these hard-to-resell TVs and began turning them away. That left them collecting dust in closets, basements, and garages until heavy trash pickup day came along.
New screen technology allowed for much larger screens at much less weight, and eventually, less cost. The average number of TVs per household, and the screen size of those TVs has only climbed. The popularity of home computers added desktop monitors to the growing collection of screened devices. Of course, even newer TVs and monitors eventually reach the end of their life, and their size, number, and low-cost replacement all spelled problems for landfills.
As TV and monitor recycling concerns grew, a national need for responsible e-waste recycling was apparent.
Why do I have to pay to recycle my tv?
The short answer: Because of the hazardous materials they contain and special handling they require, CRT televisions and monitors actually cost more to process & recycle than they are worth in usable scrap.
The long answer: The responsible recycling of cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors and televisions is essential in the preservation of our environment and human health. Considered to be hazardous household waste because of their high concentration of cadmium, phosphors, and lead, these electronics are more difficult to recycle than others. There aren’t many alternatives for those looking to get rid of one: most trash collection services cannot accept these items and are forced to leave them at the curb, and even many charities have stopped accepting them. This Cincinnati Enquirer article goes into more detail about the difficulty of recycling TVs and the costs involved, and why Cohen charges a fee instead of paying you as we do with most scrap.
To find out what else you’re able to recycle with Cohen, see a summary here and call or visit a location near you.
Some large retail chains will accept televisions and monitors for recycling, but have size restrictions. The restrictions boil down to the cost of shipping. As anyone who has tried to carry one knows, these TVs are often very heavy, which means higher freight costs. The benefit that retailers might see from being an electronics recycling collection point is literally outweighed by these added costs. Taking your TV directly to a recycler like Cohen takes that step out of the process, so recyclers can accept a wider range of makes, models, and sizes.