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Don't Kill Your Television...
| Meet the Blogger | More Posts by Jill Velez...or the Environment
Are you in the same boat as I am? I have a really old television because I just don't really watch TV, and I don't have cable, so it looks like I'll be one of those folks who will benefit from a digital converter box to keep my perfectly good television working. The other choice is to invest in a new digital-ready television. If you aren't up to speed on this whole thing, the digital switch is coming June 12th so find the details here.
The environmentally-friendly choice is obvious: opt for the converter box. Your television will still work! But if you DO choose to buy a new television, what are you going to do with your old one? 
Please don't throw it away! Televisions are toxic. They contain lead, mercury and other stuff that we should not be putting in the landfill. There are PLENTY of alternatives:
- Post it on Freecycle.org
- Give it to Goodwill
- If it's a Panasonic, Sharp or Toshiba, MRM will take it off your hands
- Check the EPA website for other recycling options
- Use the ecological side of your brain and get creative! Donate it to a local school or shelter, or encourage your favorite green volunteer organization to hold an e-waste recycling drive to be sure that this potential eco-disaster is minimized as much as possible. You can do this!
- Pick one made by a company that has a take-back program, like Sony
- Make sure you get one with an Energy Star rating
- Get a power strip that you turn off when you are not using your entertainment system.
9 Comments
Comments
In the SF Bay Area, check out http://elmars.org/ and http://greencitizen.com/ to recycle your TV & other dead electronics.
03/09/2009 11:57:39 AM CDT
Let's not forget all of the potentially creative implementations for old TVs.
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/05/5_things_to_do_with_old_tvs.html
03/09/2009 12:03:26 PM CDT
For those living in Atlanta, the city of Decatur will be having their bi-annual electronics recycling day on 3/28 between 9am-1pm.
http://www.decaturga.com/cgs_citysvcs_sfm_electronics.aspx
03/09/2009 12:03:40 PM CDT
I don't know if it's true for all Goodwill locations, but according to these guidelines, Goodwill does not accept televisions of any kind. Just thought I'd share that information.
http://www.amazinggoodwill.com/categories/18-donating/documents/15-donor-guidelines
03/09/2009 12:41:37 PM CDT
Well this is a funny topic. When I was growing up in the late 60's early 70's before Green was even heard of. My Dad turned our T.V. that looks just like this picture, into a fish aquarium. Loads of fun that was having our fish in our converted T.V. It was so cool! Just an idea and take the toxic stuff and dispose of it properly.
03/09/2009 10:43:32 PM CDT
In the Twin Cities metro area residents can refer to RethinkRecycling.com for proper electronics disposal.
Also, if people have cable TV they do not need a converter box for the digital conversion.
03/10/2009 4:56:03 PM CDT
How about just not having a TV? The things rot your brain, decay your relationships and take away your valuable time...
03/11/2009 12:33:57 PM CDT
Just got this from Best Buy:
Recycle Your Old Electronics
Did you know you can recycle electronics at your local Best Buy® store? Bring in your old TVs, computers, DVD players and more and we’ll recycle them for you. There is a $10 recycling fee for each TV, CRT, monitor or laptop you bring in, but we’ll give you a $10 Best Buy Gift Card to offset the cost.
03/12/2009 7:12:08 PM CDT
same to me. I got rid of my TV at my local dealer. It's easy, its environmentally correct and it didn't cost me a dime.
@Allen: Your damn right :D!!
03/19/2009 7:12:14 AM CDT