| From ever increasing screen size to newer | | | | responsibility to assure that recycling becomes an |
| technologies for better pictures and sound, rapid | | | | easier task in the future. Reducing the number of |
| advancements in the electronics industry age the | | | | parts, increasing the ease of disassembly, and |
| television in our living room well before it ceases | | | | using materials that readily recycle are examples |
| to function. Whether a television is displaced from | | | | of some of the strategies that are the focus |
| the center of our homes due to a simple desire | | | | during the design and manufacture stage. These |
| to upgrade or due to poor performance, millions | | | | efforts can help assure that a television or other |
| of us need to find a way of disposing of an older | | | | device can be easily and inexpensively recycled. In |
| set each year. | | | | addition, some companies are making strides in |
| Are landfills an option? | | | | reducing the use of potentially harmful elements in |
| Like most electronics devices, a television can | | | | the products they produce for consumers. |
| contain a number of elements that are potentially | | | | Panasonic, for example, began manufacturing |
| harmful to both people and the environment, | | | | plasma displays without lead in 2006. |
| making them poor residents for landfills. The | | | | For the time being however there are a number |
| various carcinogens and neurotoxins within them | | | | of efforts related to recycling in the US but |
| can potentially leach into the water system and | | | | consumers will need to do some investigation to |
| into the air through burning, with deadly results. | | | | find them. Earth911.org is one site that is |
| Not only do these oversized devices which are | | | | dedicated to recycling efforts and assists users in |
| disposed of in the millions each year push landfills | | | | finding local resources to reuse, donate, or recycle |
| to their capacity, but many of their more valuable | | | | their television or other items. Another option for |
| materials are wasted when they are not recycled. | | | | identifying local recycling centers is |
| Materials such as glass, copper, and precious | | | | plugintoecycling.org which is a partnership between |
| metals are sacrificed when an old television is | | | | the EPA and various consumer electronics |
| relegated to a landfill. | | | | manufacturers and retailers. Panasonic, Sharp, |
| How about donating or giving away an old | | | | Sony, Toshiba, Philips, and Samsung are among |
| television? | | | | some of the major television manufacturers |
| Certainly charity organizations such as the | | | | which have become "Plug-in Partners" that are |
| Salvation Army and Goodwill will take a working | | | | involved in the effort to promote recycling and |
| television and, in many instances, will arrange | | | | donation of used electronics. |
| convenient pick up. There are even individuals who | | | | As the volume of electronics waste continues to |
| seek out yard sales looking for old electronics | | | | escalate and awareness of the need to recycle |
| devices to repair as a hobby, so this presents | | | | expands, some retailers such as Best Buy, host |
| another option for finding people interested in an | | | | recycling drives. When looking for a place to take |
| old set. There are however, more convenient | | | | an unwanted television, it might be useful to start |
| methods of finding others who want a castaway | | | | with a simple phone call to a few local retailers. |
| television if it is in working order. | | | | Although the problems posed by unwanted |
| Freecycle.org is an online network that allows | | | | televisions and other electronics devices continue |
| users to post items locally at no charge. The | | | | to grow, there are a few resources available to |
| purpose of the site is to keep hazardous waste | | | | reduce the effect of this glut. Once consumers |
| out of landfills by connecting people who wish to | | | | find they have a television they no longer need, |
| dispose of items with others who are looking for | | | | whether it is working or not, there are others |
| those same products. | | | | who will take it off of their hands and put it to |
| Are there recycling options? | | | | the best possible use. |
| Manufacturers are beginning to take on greater | | | | |