Preparing for February 2009: Recycling Your Old Television Set
If you watch television and have an older TV set, (sometimes known as an analog or cathode ray tube TV) you have probably heard that by February of 2009, you will need to have purchased a converter box. Most of us already enjoy digital television programming with satellite or cable and won’t need to do much to prepare for the change. However, if you are one of the estimated 20 million households that don’t have cable or satellite and watch TV with an antennae which receives over the air signals, you won’t be able to receive any programming after midnight on the February 17, 2009 unless you buy a converter box for your analog TV.
The change to all-digital television has been mandated by Congress for several reasons – the potential for better picture and sound quality, along with more free channel options and the ability to free up more frequencies that can then be used by emergency services. And if you are affected by the change to all-digital television, it is also a great opportunity to replace your old cathode ray tube (CRT) or analog set with a state of the art flat panel television or LCD TV.
One concern that you may have is how and where to dispose of your old TV set. An estimated 75% of all unused and broken televisions are simply stored away, rather than recycled or disposed of. An older television can also be a health hazard; an older CRT set contains several pounds of toxic lead – generally between four and eight pounds. If a CRT TV is broken or destroyed, it can release lead into the atmosphere. Recycling helps to prevent the release of hazardous lead, as well as reducing the need for strip-mining to produce more lead.
Disposing of your older television set in a landfill also takes up a lot of space while recycling can help to save space. A TV set dumped in a landfill can also release harmful chemicals which can contaminate soil and groundwater. And there may also be state or local laws concerning the safe disposal of electronic devices; California was one of the first states to pass a law prohibiting the throwing away of old TV sets, followed by several other states. You can find more information on rules and regulations through the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) or your local waste management agency.
So once you have decided to do the right thing and recycle your old TV, the next question is where to take it. Consider donating your older TV to a local charity, church or hospital. They may be willing to take it off your hands as well as pick it up from your home. Your local Goodwill store will generally take an older TV set as long as it is actually working. If you don’t know where to start, simply make a few calls and see who might be interested. You can also contact the Electronic Industries Alliance which lists local and national organizations that accept used electronic items.
You may even be able to dispose of your old set at the same place where you are buying your new set. Some retailers, such as Best Buy, Circuit City and Office Depot occasionally team up with manufacturers and sponsor in-store collection of televisions, computers and other electronics devices. This service is usually free or there is a small charge but it is a great opportunity to easily and safely dispose of your TV. And if your new set is being delivered, they will usually take the old one away.
Regardless of where you decide to recycle your old TV, there are some questions you should ask. You should determine whether the company or store taking your TV complies with state or local electronics disposal laws, and whether they send any hazardous waste to a facility that specializes in the safe and legal disposal of hazardous waste. And any electronic waste that is sent overseas should be sent only to developed countries.
February 2009 will be here before you know it, Not only is this the perfect time to invest in a new television, it is also a great opportunity to safely and legally dispose of your old set.
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