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TV Recycling and Disposal

This article takes a look at TV recycling in the US, as well as, outlines ways to dispose of TVs while being conscious of the environment.

The simple fact that televisions contain many harmful chemicals that require specialized handling makes TV recycling difficult.  Compounding this is a severe lack of responsible recycling facilities in the US and surrounding regions.  This is because the recycling landscape has changed dramatically in the US over the past several years. As a result, TV recycling, specifically CRT recycling, has become difficult and expensive.  The market for CRTs, and the materials extracted from them, disappeared in the blink of an eye.  This article takes a look at TV recycling in the US and outlines ways to dispose of TVs while being conscious of the environment.

Which Type of TV Are You Recycling?

As an electronic recycler, the common phone call we receive is, “Do you recycle TVs?” We do, but there’s more to it than that. Recycling a CRT TV is different from recycling a flat-screen. For this reason, you must be able to identify which type of TV you are trying to recycle. A CRT is noticeably different from the newer, flatter TVs that have become the norm over the past twenty years. With a new look comes new technology and, in theory, less impact on the environment. While CRT TVs are undoubtedly harder on the environment than flat screens, both are toxic and notoriously difficult to recycle.

CRT: The Really Old TV 

CRT TV recycling is the most cumbersome because of the design of the TV. Most people know what a CRT TV is, but they don’t know it by that name. The best way to describe a CRT is, they have a big back and weigh a ton. CRT stands for ‘cathode-ray tube.’  This vacuum-sealed glass tube creates a beam of negatively charged electrons.  The ‘big-back’ on a CRT is necessary to hold the tube safely. The tube concentrates electrons in a stream that react with phosphors to create a picture. Phosphors (substances that glow) coat the glass’s inside to increase the image’s brightness and color.  

By the 1930s, CRT TVs were being commercially produced, and by 1960, nearly 90 percent of American households had one. The impact of most Americans having access to a TV cannot be overlooked.  Much like the internet revolutionized accessibility of information, the CRT made the shared human experience accessible in ways never imagined.  Suddenly, the average person could watch a human land on the moon and see war unfold in realtime. However, all of yesterday’s CRT TVs and computer monitors need to be collected and recycled.

Before search for TV recycling, it is important to determine if you have a CRT or flat screen.
CRT Screens are easy to spot because they have a large back on them.

Plasma: The Not So Old TV 

Since 2007, plasma TV sales have dropped steadily because of the LCD. AS such, plasma TVs are being recycled at a steady rate.  Plasma TVs are flatter than CRTs, but they do have a larger back than most LCDs. Plasma displays were actually invented before CRTs and are equivalent to them in environmental impact. Like CRTs, plasma TVs use mercury and phosphors. Flat screens with mercury bulbs potentially pose a future issue similar to CRTs. There are inadequate warnings/information about this issue. In addition to toxins, Plasma TVs use significantly more energy than CRTs and LCDs. As with CRTs, plasma TVs need to be collected and phased out.

Before search for TV recycling, it is important to determine which type of TV you have.
Plasma TVs generally have a larger profile than LED or LCD TVs.

LCD/LED: The (Usually) Broken Old TV 

LCD or Liquid Crystal Display TVs typically use LED or Light-Emitting Diode displays. These skinny TVs often use LCD and LED coupled together, but they don’t have to.  The LCD/LED combination produces extraordinary picture quality and is generally brighter than TVs of the past.  The extraordinary light produced makes them perfect for billboards and signs.  Unfortunately, the wide-spread commercial use means there are far more of them than there ever were CRTs.

The life cycle of a TV. TV recycling is important because of the chemicals TVs contain.
The Life Cycle of LCD Televisions. This shows the materials that go into making an LCD and what happens to those materials throughout the life of the TV.

Projection TVs: The Middle Aged TV

Rear-projection and front-projection TVs are free-standing, large, and light TVs that were very popular until approximately 2006.  They can be CRT, LCD, or laser-based.  They use a lens or mirror to project the image made by the CRT or LCD.  The projection allows for the large screen sizes seen in this type of TV.  As with plasma TVs, projection TVs have been around far longer than most consumers realize.  They were very popular in the late 1940s using CRT technology.  In the early 2000s, they were a less expensive alternative to the burgeoning plasma and LCD TVs.  However, as prices have decreased on flat screens, the projection TV market has crashed.  Since projection TVs are simply a re-working of CRT and LCD technology, their environmental impact is equal to CRTs and LCDs.

Before search for TV recycling, it is important to determine if your projection TV uses CRT technology.
Rear Projections TV are large, free standing televisions that are light weight.

Why TV Recycling is Important

The Environmental Impact of CRT TVs

The cathode-ray tube (CRT) is a vacuum tube. Breaking the vacuum seal, say by dropping the TV, there is potential for an implosion. This thick glass minimizes the risk to anyone close by if the tube implodes. 30% of the weight of a CRT TV is in this leaded glass. In the event the glass cracks, the lead or barium will block X-rays coming from the inside. The TV screen’s colors are created by blending heavy metals into the phosphors coating the inside of the glass. Because of the inclusion of lead or barium, CRTs marked for disposal are considered hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

The Impact of Landfilling

If landfilled, the heavy metal in CRTs has environmental disaster potential. The heavy metals inside a TV get into the land, water, and air, as they sit in landfills and piles in the desert.  Life does not tolerate heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, even in small quantities. They cause congenital disabilities, directly attack the brain, and ultimately lead to death if enough of the metal is allowed to build up in the body. Extra processing is necessary to ensure the toxins do not get into the environment or harm those tasked with physically disassembling them.   

Too often televisions end up in landfills. There they pollute the land, water and air. This is why proper TV recycling is important.
Too often televisions end up in landfills. There they pollute the land, water and air.

The Environmental Impact of flat-screen TVs

Plasma, LDC, QLED, OLED, or LED TVs are referred to as ‘flat-screen TVs’. This is a generic term that is comparing them to the big-backed CRT.  In addition to a smaller physical footprint, they boast better picture quality through improved technology.  These factors decreased the prices leading to LCD panels outselling CRTs worldwide for the first time in 2008.

The impact of landfilling

The amount of toxic chemicals found in the flat-screens is smaller than in CRTs.  However, they still contain an alphabet soup of harmful chemicals like antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver, vanadium, and zinc. Besides known hazards, with new technologies comes the introduction of new materials.  Those materials may have an unknown downstream effect.  When landfilled, these chemicals leach into the water, land, and air. Many of these chemicals take hundreds of years to break down. Even then, they may break down into an even more dangerous material.

Everybody has to have one (or two)

Flat-screens use far less electricity than CRTs. A Consumer Technology Association (CTA) study found that LCD TVs from 2015 consume 76% less energy (per screen area) than TVs did in 2003. However, while energy consumption has dropped, the average screen size has increased by more than 20% since 2010.  Even though flat screens use less energy and have less toxicity, consumers go through them faster.  More than 60% of replaced televisions in 2012 were still functioning; this is mostly because of decreasing prices and lightning-fast technological advancements.  This drives consumers to upgrade, versus holding on to a TV for 25 years, as was the case with CRTs.  Because of this, there are more flat screens out there. Adding to the volume of TVs in circulation is the advent of the multiple TV house. In 2011, the average American household had 2.5 TVs, with 30% having 4 or more.

Although energy usage has decreased as television technology has improved, there are many factors that make the environmental impact equal to TVs of the past.
Although energy usage has decreased as television technology has improved, there are many factors that make the environmental impact equal to TVs of the past.

The ImPact of Design

Most people can attest to the almost indestructible, tank-like construction of the CRT.  They work for years and years.  In contrast, electronics such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops seem to have shorter and shorter lives. They break easier, plain and simple. This wouldn’t be an issue, except, “There are trends towards non-repairability/replaceability/re-programmability in the design of products.” More and more manufacturers use proprietary parts that are not interchangeable or solder previously replaceable parts to mainboards. This makes today’s products less ‘fixable’ and ‘upgradeable’ than past technology. Apple and its proprietary screws are one example of this. This trend forces consumers to buy new and increases resource consumption. All of this increases the need for reliable TV recycling.

The Impact of Mass Manufacturing

LCDs are manufactured using nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), which is a potent greenhouse gas. Also, solvents called tetramethylammonium hydroxide, iodine/potassium iodide, and dimethyl sulfoxide are used to manufacture LCDs. All three are toxic and dissolve in water, which means they get into the water supply. Although flat panel display devices create less human health concern than CRTs, the latest tech devices are worse when it comes to the environment. This concern primarily is because of the mercury in LCD TVs.  The sheer number of LCDs being produced for TVs and commercial use is staggering.  The ecofootprint of the manufacturing, shipping, packaging, longevity, and use cancel out the energy savings from the flat-screen technology.

This chart shows the environmental impact of the production of an LCD TV. The chemicals are listed in the color-coded key. The left axis of the graph shows different negative environmental impacts of those chemicals
This chart shows the environmental impact of the production of an LCD TV. The chemicals are listed in the color-coded key. The left axis of the graph shows different negative environmental impacts of those chemicals

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Harsh Reality of TV Recycling

Over the past 30 years, the most effective management method for unwanted or broken CRTs was to recycle them into more CRTs.  However, with the shift from CRT technology to flat panel technologies, the new CRT market is dwindling. Unfortunately (or fortunately), CRTs have reached the end of the line. They are environmentally devastating, have no market value, and require expensive, specialized equipment to recycle. All of this makes it expensive to be a TV recycler.

Why There is a Fee for CRT Recycling?

In the US and North America, CRT TV recycling is scant, cumbersome, and scattered. The (literal) cost of protecting the environment and the workers of the facility is high. There is minimal incentive to be in the CRT recycling business. As such, there are only two CRT recyclers in the US and four in North America. When ACE ships out a load of TVs for recycling, we pay the shipping cost, and we pay by the pound for the recycling. ACE and our downstream recycler have to recoup our cost for responsible disposal. Unfortunately, doing the right thing has a price. Any TV recycler will have to do the same. This is why you should be suspicious of a recycler that does not charge you a minimal fee. The expectation of this is municipalities, as they are recouping their cost through taxes.

The CRT recycling process

The Easy Way Out

There is a general unwillingness to commit to investing in recycling at federal and local levels. Which, in turn, leaves no incentive for more TV recyclers to open shop. This leaves the average person with few options to do the right thing. Companies willing to even deal with TVs are few and far between. The consumer often opts for the landfill and not proper disposal.  The US EPA estimates that 194,000 tons of computer monitors and 181,000 tons of televisions were recycled in 2010. This includes CRTs and flat-screens. This means only 33% of computer monitors and 17% of TVs were recycled. Consequently, according to an EPA report, the lead, cadmium, chromium, and other aging circuitry materials account for 70% of landfills’ hazardous material. Remember – landfills are local.  A landfilled TV is directly impacting the quality of your water, land, and air.

What Can be Done?

The solution to the CRT recycling problem is to get them out of circulation. That means get the CRT out of your basement, attic, or garage and get it to a responsible recycler. This will allow the e-waste industry to focus more on developing the necessary infrastructure to process all the new technology. This is a re-occurring issue within the electronic waste industry. Consumer technology changes too fast for the recycling technology to keep up. Compounding the problem is a general unwillingness to invest in recycling technology at federal and local levels. The average consumer is left with few options to do the right thing. Too often, the consumer opts for the landfill, not recycling.

According to the EPA, only 33 percent of computer monitors and 17 percent of TVs were recycled. Consequently, according to an EPA report, the lead, cadmium, chromium, and other aging circuitry materials account for 70 percent of landfills’ hazardous material.  Remember that landfills are local.  This means when a TV is landfilled, it is directly impacting the quality of your water, land, and air. 

The flat screen recycling process.

TV Recycling & Dispoal Laws

Laws Regulating Disposal

19 states have CRT disposal bans, which makes it illegal to landfill a CRT. Arizona is not one of them. This means, in Arizona, it is perfectly legal to landfill a CRT. There, it will sit for thousands of years, leaching lead and other toxins directly into our local water, air, and land. This is not advisable. CRTs on the curb for bulk pick-up are landfilled. Thankfully, there are other options in the Valley to dispose of your old TV or monitor that are environmentally sound.

A load of TVs ready to ship to COM2 from ACE Recycling.

Manufacturer Responsibility in TV Recycling

24 states require manufacturers to pay for some or all recycling of CRT monitors and TVs, and other electronics. Manufacturers accomplish this by partnering with local recyclers or electronic stores. Generally, if you go to the manufacturer’s website, you will find a list of the partners they work with. The Electronics TakeBack Coalition has a complete list of Manufacturers Take-Back Programs and grades them. Best Buy, Staples, or Office Depot are common collection points. Even so, the hassle of storing, packing, and shipping the TVs falls on the recycler, not the manufacturer. Consequently, there are significant gaps and very little transparency when it comes to TV recycling.  This is partially due to inconsistency from state to state.  The manufacturer needs to meet state electronic waste expectations.  This widens the gap further as there are wildly different laws in place from state to state.

States with laws regulating the disposal of electronic waste, including TVs.

Illustrating the gap

Sony is the maker of the ever-popular Sony Trinitron, the grandfather of all CRTs.  Sony’s website states, “To encourage consumers to recycle and dispose of electronic devices in an environmentally sound manner, Sony has established a national recycling program for consumer electronics. The Sony Take Back Recycling Program allows consumers to recycle all Sony-branded products for no fee at 75 Waste Management (WM) Recycle America eCycling drop-off centers throughout the US.”  They provide the following link, http://www.sony.com/recycle, for “more information about the Sony Take Back Recycling Program.” It goes to nowhere, and there is no information on the Waste Management (WM) website.  In fact, it specifically states, WM does NOT take CRTS.  Emails to the listed contacts result in a postmaster, ’email not found’ error.  Calling the number listed takes you to Verizon (?).  

The Sony Trinitron is a CRT TV that was very popular.
The Sony Trinitron.

Digging further, a collaboration between Sony and ERI is in place for electronic recycling.  A search feature allows you to find a recycler in your area by device.  When searching for a CRT recycler using zip codes from Washington state, Texas, Arizona, and California, there are no results.  It does say, “If you can’t find an option, look for an upcoming recycling event or mail your Sony-branded product to us for responsible recycling at no cost.”  It is going to cost a significant amount to ship a CRT.  Sony appears to be taking all the steps needed to clean up the CRT mess, but no actual solution is presented. This is why it is crucial to ask, “Where does this end up?” when searching for a TV recycling facility.

Environmentally Responsible TV Recycling in Arizona

The City of Phoenix

Phoenix residents can drop off CRTs at one of two transfer stations.  This option is free of charge for up to 2 CRTs per month and only for residential customers.  You must prove residency with a utility bill.  This is by appointment only. Please call in advance!  For more information, click here.

Drop Off Locations:

3060 S. 27th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85009​

30205 N. Black Canyon Hwy. Phoenix, AZ 85085

Also, the city holds household hazardous waste events.  CRTs can be bought to these events.  Again, you are limited to 2 for free and must provide proof of residency.  According to the City of Phoenix website, this model is changing as of December 2020.  For more information on this change, click here.

Maricopa County

CRTs can be dropped off at 2222 S. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009.  This is your cheapest option at $13 for each CRT.  For more information, click here.

Best Buy

Best Buy will take CRTs up to 32″ and flat screens up to 50″ for a $25 fee. Tube TVs more than 32″, flat panels greater than 60″, and projection TVs can’t be dropped off; you must use their pick-up service. More information can be found here, www.bestbuy.com/recycling. Best Buy is considered the Take Back program leader, but what they take varies from state to state.  

Other Areas in Arizona

For those outside of Maricopa County, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality lists TV recycling drop-off sites by city.

ACE Recycling

ACE Recycling charges $20.00 for CRTs. There is no charge for projection and flat-screen TVs. However, as of January 1st, 2021, our fees with change to $25.00 per CRT, $20.00 per projection TV, and $5.00 per flat screen. We work with one of the countries few CRT recyclers, COM2 Recycling. COM2 does all TV recycling in house. At COM2, the leaded CRT glass is recycled into ceramic tile glaze. ACE Recycling pledges to maintain our environment and community’s integrity by responsibly recycling CRTs (and all other electronics).  

Resale of CRTS

Believe it or not, there is a CRT re-sale market, albeit a small one.  Old school video games (think NES Super Mario Bros.) lag on flat-screen TVs.  One of the best-known examples is Duck Hunt, which uses Nintendo’s Zapper light gun. When players pull the trigger, the entire screen briefly flashes black, and then a white square appears at the “duck’s” location. If the optical sensor detects a quick black-then-white pattern, it’s a hit. On CRT monitors, which were dominant when the game launched, a character will react almost instantly when you push a button. On newer TVs, the animation may start just a little later. This forces players to adjust their timing and puts them at a disadvantage. 

It is possible to find someone who will buy your CRT TV if it works. However, they should be local, as it will be expensive to ship the TV.  Local selling sites like Craig’s List, Facebook Marketplace, and Offer Up are good places to list your working CRT.  Remember, this is a very specialized market.  You may get lucky and find a gamer in need of a CRT close by, or you might not.

Duck Hunt works better on CRT TVs. Because of this there is a market for them with gamers.
Duck Hunt works better on CRT TVs. Because of this, there is a market for them with gamers.

TV Recycling Do’s and Don’t’s

TV disposal Do's and Don'ts. It is important to make sure your TV is recycled and not put in a landfill.
TV disposal Do’s and Don’ts

Take-Aways

When looking to dispose of your TV, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, it is important to know what type of TV you have. Second, you will likely pay a fee. Third, you should ask, ‘Where does this end up?”. Recycling TVs is difficult in the US, especially CRTs. It is best to get them out of your house and to a recycler to ease the strain on TV recyclers. ACE Recycling will be happy to collect your TV and dispose of it properly; however, there are less expensive options. Those options may come with caveats, like pre-scheduling and proof of residency. If you wish to drop off your TV to ACE, we are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We charge $20 per CRT TV. However, our pricing will go on January 1st, 2021, so get them in NOW!

Back to School Distance Learning Essentials at Affordable Prices

ACE Recycling is committed to keeping our community learning as we head back to school online.  We have all the tools you will need to ensure your student is ready to learn on day one.  As an electronic recycler, we can offer our neighbors electronics at affordable prices.  We have a wide range of options to fit your needs and budget.  We have laptops starting under $100.00. If you are looking for a long-term solution for your high schooler or college student, we have more robust options.  In addition to laptops, we have PCs, monitors, keyboards, mice, cables, speakers, and other accessories for your back to school needs.  All of our laptops have Windows 10 installed and webcams. 

Back to School Distance Learning Essentials at Affordable Prices
Back to School Distance Learning Essentials at Affordable Prices at ACE Recycling.
Back to School Upgrades and Repairs

If you have a computer that needs a repair or upgrade, we are happy to help.  We can upgrade your laptop or PC to Windows 10. Also, we can increase your storage and speed with a hard drive or RAM upgrade.  Upgrading most machines is easy and far more cost-effective than buying new.

Back to School Economics

As parents ourselves, we understand the need to have the technology available for our kids. Alternatively, we know things are tight right now. ACE Recycling offers an affordable alternative to buying new.  It hardly makes economic sense to buy an elementary student a brand-new laptop. Besides the cost, your child may only need it for six months.  Not to mention, all the excess pre-loaded apps and programs that come on them. Not only are they unnecessary, but could be potentially dangerous for a child that young.

The added benefit is reusing and refurbishing is better for the environment.  Our commitment to a circular economy puts us in an excellent position to help the environment, and our community at the same time. As a small, family-run business, we can accommodate most requests. Whether you are building a custom PC or need data pulled off of a hard drive.  We pride ourselves on stellar, small-town customer service and are more than happy to help you.  We will help you select a laptop that will meet your needs or determine the specs for a desktop computer. 

Back to School Selection

If you are interested in seeing what we have available, send an email to info@aceewaste.com or stop by!  ACE Recycling is located at 10297 West Van Buren Street, Suite 16, in Tolleson, AZ, just west of 99th Ave.  We are open from 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday.

We look forward to helping you find what you need to navigate through the upcoming school year!

Need low-cost internet?  Check out Cox Connect2Compete program.  For other resources, explore your local school district’s website or contact the district office.  For those in Tolleson School District, click here.

Data Security: What does it mean to “wipe” data and how secure is it?

Over the past several years, it seems we hear about data security breaches more and more often. When financial institutions get hacked, this is especially alarming.  Our SSN, bank account information, home address, etc., are out there in the hands of individuals that have bad intentions. But as consumers, we give out our information multiple times a day, usually in ways we can’t even imagine. The truth is, most of our information is already out there.  How many passwords do you have saved on your phone and computer? If someone got your phone, could they open a banking app, social media app, Nest thermostat app and be “in” without entering a password? By the way, you should not have your password saved on a banking app on your phone for this very reason.  Take the two extra minutes to enter your password.

What ACE Recycling Does

The industry ACE Recycling is in is called IT Asset Disposition (ITAD). This industry is created around removing data securely, which makes sense considering all the data out there that would rock the world if it got out (think CIA).  More recently, it has become central to the idea of a circular economy and the purpose of disposing of electronic equipment in an environmentally responsible way.  Ensuring toxic materials are disposed of properly, materials are recycled for reuse to reduce the need to extract more is all part of ITAD. 

Environmental Impact

Like most things, electronic disposal and creation is a multi-faceted issue with enough information to write a book on.  Electronics contain many toxic materials, such as arsenic, mercury, and lead. They also contain elements that are not harmful, but the environmental and human cost of the extraction of those materials is steep.  Three of particular importance are cobalt, neodymium, and dysprosium. The latter are rare earth minerals. These are minerals found sporadically within the Earth instead of being found in large seams like coal or copper. Therefore, they not economically exploitable and are rare in any given area.  With the pace of mining these materials accelerating as demand for electronics increases, they become rarer and rarer.

The Human Impact

Cobalt is of particular concern because of the widespread exploitation of the people and the mines’ natural environment. Cobalt is used for various electronics and is a conflict mineral (or conflict resource).  A conflict mineral is a natural resource extracted in a conflict zone that is mined and sold to perpetuate the fighting. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) harbors ⅔ of the world’s cobalt. Many mines in the DRC are small and unregulated, where child labor is widespread. What’s more, the political and ethnic dynamics of the region have resulted in violent armed conflict. This conflict is mostly financially supported by the mining and sale of cobalt.  For every new electronic device we buy, we are, in some way supporting militant groups and child labor.

In addition to this human cost, there is an environmental cost in creating new electronics.  Ten tons of carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere to produce 1 ton of laptops.  By 2040, carbon emissions from the production of electronics will reach 14% of total worldwide emissions. There is 100 times more gold in a ton of mobile devices than in a ton of gold ore.  Extending the life of electronics or harvesting the resources from them is far more sustainable than the current system. Not to mention, it has a more significant economic benefit than throwing them away.

Laws and Standards

Several data protection laws are in place at the Federal level.  The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects your health information, while The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects student education records. The Wiretap Act and the Electronic Communication Privacy Act (ECPA) protects your communications (electronic or on “landlines”).  Each state has laws in place to protect data at the individual and business level as well. In addition to statutes, The Department of Defense, the National Security Agency, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and various other institutions directly concerned with data security have data destruction standards and policies. However, the go-to industry standard for data erasure is the NIST report Guidelines for Media Sanitization SP 800-88 Rev. 1. This document is written for, and to, the business owner.

Techniques for Data Sanitization/Wiping

Media sanitization/data erasure/data wiping are all the same name for the process of making data on a device unable to be retrieved. The NIST report defines three categories of sanitization: Clear, Purge, and Destroy.  Clearing data is “logical techniques applied to sanitize data in all user-addressable storage locations for protection against simple non-invasive data recovery techniques.” Simply put, restoring your device to factory settings or using on-device standard Read and Write commands would constitute clearing your data.  These techniques can be applied by the average consumer, perhaps with a little help. Purging is “physical or logical techniques that render the Target Data recovery infeasible using state of the art laboratory techniques.” Purging data is what ACE Recycling does through a process explained below. Destroy “renders the Target Data recovery infeasible using state of the art laboratory techniques and results in the subsequent inability to use the media for the storage of data.”  Physical destruction is the result here, removing the device from circulation.

What Wiping Data Means

Imagine a book.  Now imagine erasing every word from the book and writing over the pages with random letters.  If you think of the data stored on a hard drive like the pages of that book, you get an idea of data erasure. The hard drive is “overwritten” with random 1s and 0s (computer language). One overwriting pass “hinders recovery of data even if state-of-the-art laboratory techniques are applied to attempt to retrieve the data”; however, most programs use multiple passes.  The number of passes has become unnecessary with the inclusion of a “verify pass.” The verify pass scans for verification of data removal by selecting random places on the device to “check” for overwriting. According to the National Security Agency, data wiped using these standards is “permanently destroyed as to make any type of forensic data recovery impossible.”  Complete data erasure destroys all data, including operating systems. Your hard drive is never booted. Thus, there is no access to data during the wiping process.

ACE Recycling’s Data Security Procedure

ACE Recycling adheres to the Department of Defense 5220.22-M and HIPAA specifications for data erasure; the foundation of both is the NIST report. We use a three-pass overwrite with verification, completed using the latest version of Active@ KillDisk.  This verification comes in the form of a serialized print out of devices subject to the sanitization process. According to the NIST report, “verifying the selected information sanitization and disposal process is an essential step in maintaining confidentiality.”   In addition to the software verifying the sufficient wipe of your data, we check ourselves. ACE Recycling takes a random sampling of the devices that have gone through the sanitization process. This three-tier system ensures data security, giving our customers peace of mind while keeping the device in circulation.

ACE Recycling Data Security

What is Best for your Organization?

The best way to answer this is to consider the confidentiality level of the information on the device.  In general, if the device is leaving the organization’s control, as it would be if you have ACE Recycling disposition it for you, it should be purged and validated.  Both of which ACE Recycling does. Clear should only be an option if the device is remaining within the organization. Data wiping offers an alternative to physical destruction, allowing the hard drive to remain in circulation, reducing electronic waste and carbon emissions. The NIST report clearly states that “organizations should consider environmental factors” when disposing of electronic waste. For most companies, purge “may be more appropriate than Destroy when factoring in environmental concerns…” 

When to DESTROY

In general, destroy is an option only if the drive is not functioning or physically cannot go through the purge process. According to the NIST report, “The application of Destructive techniques may be the only option when media fails…other clear or purge techniques cannot be effectively applied…or when verification of Clear or Purge methods fails”. ACE Recycling adheres to this statement. Purge and Destroy achieve the same outcome concerning data protection. The main difference is the hard drive is taken out of the circular model when destroyed. In a genuine circular economy, items would be reused, refurbished, repaired, or reduced in consumption before the last resort of destruction. 

ACE Recycling is committed to the security of your data and a circular economy. The NIST Report outlines a path to achieve both. With a focus on reusing as many materials as possible, we help lower technology costs, reduce environmental impacts, and make technology accessible to all.

More Information:

On Conflict Minerals-

http://conflictminerals.org/

https://enoughproject.org/special-topics/progress-and-challenges-conflict-minerals-facts-dodd-frank-1502

Data Erasure-

https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/522022M.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20160320074045/https://www.nsa.gov/ia/_files/government/MDG/NSA_CSS_Storage_Device_Declassification_Manual.pdf

*Updated 2020

Celebrate the Season with ACE Recycling at the Avondale Winterfest

The City of Avondale will hold its annual Winterfest on Saturday, December 7th from 5 – 8 pm at the Avondale Civic Center’s outdoor amphitheater (11465 W Civic Center Drive, Avondale 85323).  The event is free to attend. 

This is a great way to kickoff the Holiday Season with family and community.  Come see the lights, play in the snow and enjoy good food and sweet treats. There will be rides and Holiday themed activities, including cookie decorating, a Story Time booth and various other activities and crafts, coordinated by WHAM.  The Arizona Coyotes Street Team will be there to cheer you on as you take your best shot on the outdoor street hockey rink. Santa will be joining the festivities and be available to take pictures inside Avondale City Hall.

To top off the evening Mayor Weise, City Council members and Santa will lead a lighting ceremony at 5:55 pm, followed by performances by community groups, including Studio 21 Dance, Luke Air Force Choir and Bravo Dance Family.  The synchronized musical light show will continue throughout the Season for all to enjoy.

ACE Recycling will be set up outside City Hall with information and giveaways.  Stop by to learn more about what we do, shake hands and pick up your Holiday treat.  We look forward to seeing you!

The Winterfest is hosted by the City of Avondale.  Winterfest is sponsored in part by Brookfield/Alamar, T-Mobile, Sam’s Club, APS, West Valley View, and the Avondale Arts Commission.  For more information, visit www.avondaleaz.gov/events or call Avondale Parks & Recreation Department at (623)333-2400. Facebook Event https://www.facebook.com/events/491737911632584/

FIND ALL YOUR HOLIDAY TECH GIFTS IN ONE PLACE, AT GREAT PRICES, WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE

If tech is on your Holiday shopping list, we have you covered. Have a teen that needs a laptop, but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars? Need an upgrade to Windows 10? Want to add a second monitor to make your work more efficient? We can help you with all of this and more.

ACE Recycling is committed to a circular economy.  This means that we refurbish and resell what we can to keep it in circulation.  Our expert tech team is able to repair and refresh laptops and PCs allowing us to sell them to our community at affordable prices.  If tech is on your Holiday shopping list, we have you covered. Have a teen that needs a laptop, but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars?  Need an upgrade to Windows 10? Want to add a second monitor to make your work more efficient? We can help you with all of this and more. What’s more, ACE Recycling will talk to you to understand your particular needs and find what would be best for you, without breaking the bank.  Because we are a small, family owned business we are able to give you personal, honest service that you will not find at a big chain. Help grow your community by shopping local and get a great deal at the same time!

Here’s what we have for sale right now:

Monitors: HDMI ready – $35.00 No HDMI – $30.00

Laptops (all have Windows 10 installed):

HP Probook 450 – i5, 2.2 GHZ, 8GB RAM, 500GB HD – $125.00

Thinkpad – Lenovo E560 – i7, 320 GB HD, 8GB RAM – 15” screen – $200.00

Dell Precision 5510 – i5, 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM – $400.00

Dell Latitude 3440 – i5, 160 GB HD, 4GB RAM, 1.6 GHz – $125.00

Lenovo Thinkpad E550 – i7, 160GB HD, 4GB RAM, 2.54GHz – $175.00

Toshiba Satellite – Celeron, 32GB HD, 2GB RAM, 2.16 GHz, Touchscreen – $175.00

Dell Latitude 3470 – i5, 6th Gen, 120 GB HD, 4GB RAM, 2.5GHz – $200.00

Dell XPS 18 – Tablet, Touchscreen, Pentium, 240 GB SSD, 8GB RAM – $275.00

Dell XPS 18 – Tablet, Touchscreen, i3, 240 GB SSD, 8GB RAM – $400.00

Prefer a PC?  We can customize one for your needs.  Whether your a gamer, or just need a PC for everyday tasks, we will meet your needs at a price that fits your budget.

Projectors:

NEC Projector VT695 – $50.00

Benq Digital Projector – W710ST, 100-240 V, 3.5 A, 720 Res, HDMI, S-Video, SD/HDTV signal input, includes cables, remote and manuals – $400.00

Sharp Projector – HDMI, DLP 3-D ready – $75.00

Want more information? Call us @ 623.907.5430, email us @ info@aceewaste.com or stop in 10297 W. Van Buren St., #16, Tolleson, AZ 85353

Looking for something else? Check out our Bonanza Booth

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP AND BUSINESS NAME

ACE Recycling, in partnership with the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate a change of ownership and business name. The ceremony will be on November 1st, 2019 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. ACE Recycling is located at 10297 W. Van Buren St., #16, Tolleson, AZ 85353.

October 10, 2019 – Tolleson, AZ – ACE Recycling, in partnership with the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate a change of ownership and business name.  The ceremony will be on November 1st, 2019 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.  ACE Recycling is located at 10297 W. Van Buren St., #16, Tolleson, AZ 85353.

Businesses and elected officials will join business owners Shelby and John Maguire for the ribbon cutting event.  In addition to the ribbon cutting ceremony, ACE Recycling will be holding an Electronic Waste Drive.  For a complete list of electronics ACE Recycling accepts, please visit www.aceewaste.com/what-can-be-recycled. There will be a collection drive for the Homeless Youth Connection (www.hycaz.org). The Homeless Youth Connection will be taking donations of $5-10 fast food gift cards and/or $20-25 grocery store gift cards.  The ceremony will take place at 12:00 PM followed by lunch and a tour of the facility.  There will be a raffle and door prizes, along with educational information and networking.

About ACE Recycling:

ACE Recycling provides a cost effective, environmentally responsible solution to the problem of ever increasing electronics in landfills. ACE recycles obsolete and surplus electronic equipment (working and non-working) and is able to reuse, refurbish, recover and recycle virtually all materials creating a surprisingly low cost solution for businesses.  ACE Recycling offers Department of Defense approved & HIPAA compliant data destruction.

ACE Recycling is open for electronic waste drop-off from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday and 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday through a partnership with River Crossing Self Storage and RV.  More information can be found at www.aceewaste.com.

Contact:

Shelby Maguire, owner

623.907.5430/Shelby@aceewaste.com

Recycling Partnership with River Crossing Self Storage and RV: Open Saturdays for Electronic Waste Drop-Off

ACE Recycling is excited to announce that we have partnered with River Crossing Self Storage and RV in Avondale to offer a second drop-off location with Saturday drop-off for your convenience.

ACE Recycling is excited to announce that we have partnered with River Crossing Self Storage and RV in Avondale! This allows ACE to offer a second electronic waste drop-off location. Even more exciting, River Crossing is open on Saturdays for electronic waste drop-off.  River Crossing is open for drop-off, Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Changes to TV Drop-Off at River Crossing

As of January 1st, 2021, River Crossing cannot accept any TVs for electronic waste drop-off. ALL TVs and CRT monitors must be brought to ACE Recycling for disposal. However, flat-screen monitors can still be dropped off at River Crossing for recycling. If you have a CRT TV or monitor, you have a few options for responsible disposal. To learn about those options, please click here.

TV Recycling and Disposal Do's and Don'ts
TV disposal Do’s and Don’ts

Beginning January 1st, 2021, ACE will charge $25 per CRT TV or monitor, $20 per projection TV, and $5 per flatscreen TV. As part of our commitment to our environment, ACE Recycling recycles TVs and CRT monitors responsibly. We ship TVs and CRT monitors to COM2 Recycling in Illinois.

TV Recycling

COM2 is one of only a handful of facilities that recycle TVs in North America. Consequently, ACE Recycling has formed a solid relationship with them, shipping thousands of TVs a year. When ACE Recycling ships out a load of TVs for recycling, we pay the shipping cost, and we pay by-the-pound for the recycling.  ACE and COM2 have to recoup our cost for responsible disposal. As such, TV and CRT monitor recycling is the only thing ACE charges for.

To learn more about TV recycling in the U.S. or find out which type of TV or monitor you have, please read ACE Recycling’s TV Recycling and Disposal article. While it is genuinely our intention to make recycling your electronics as easy and inexpensive as possible, we intend to do the right thing. In this case, doing what is best for our environment comes at a cost. We appreciate your understanding and help in this matter.

TV Recycling and Disposal at ACE Recycling
If landfilled, the heavy metal in CRTs has environmental disaster potential. The heavy metals inside a TV get into the land, water, and air, as they sit in landfills and piles in the desert.  Life does not tolerate heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, even in small quantities. They cause congenital disabilities, directly attack the brain, and ultimately lead to death if enough of the metal is allowed to build up in the body.

Items River Crossing Accepts for Recycling

Aside from TVs and CRT monitors, you can take the same e-waste items to River Crossing Self Storage as you can to ACE Recycling.  Small household appliances should be clean. If you have questions about specific items, call ACE Recycling at 623-907-5430. You can find a complete list of electronics that ACE Recycling accepts here. 

As part of their concern for our environment, River Crossing accepts expired car seats for recycling. Car seats are recycled through a partnership with KidSafe.

Who is River Crossing?

Managed by the husband and wife team, Harry and Carol Keyes, River Crossing offers various storage space options. There are many options to fit your budget and space requirements. Located at 12100 West Van Buren St., Avondale, AZ 85323, River Crossing Self Storage and RV offers secure, drive up storage. There are month-to-month leases available for flexibility. To ensure the security of your property, the facility is fully fenced and under surveillance. Convenient on-line pay is available, with money down. Carol and Harry offer their customers small business hospitality and top-notch customer service.

River Crossing Self Storage and ACE Recycling have partnered. River Crossing accepts e-waste drop-off on Saturdays.
Carol and Harry Keyes manage River Crossing Self Storage and RV in Avondale.

ACE is excited about this partnership. We are glad to offer a secondary drop-off location that is open to our customers on Saturdays.  We appreciate River Crossing’s shared concern for our local environment. Through our partnership, ACE and River Crossing are doing what we can to keep toxins out of our landfills. We look forward to a long partnership!

Meet the Amazing Charlie!!

Meet the amazing Charlie! When you call or email ACE Recycling it is Charlie that is able to answer all your questions. We want to take a minute to introduce her to you, allowing you to put a face to the name.

I have had over 20 years experience with Customer Service from restaurant to receptionist and everything in between. I enjoy making people smile and feel the best way to do that is to provide a hassle-free customer service experience. I’m the Head of Amazingness here at ACE Recycling, from answering the phones and scheduling your pick-ups to wiping hard drives and sending out reports. I enjoy learning new things, which comes in handy when you’re working with computers. In my spare time I enjoy reading books and cooking.

ACE Recycling: IT Services and Computer Repairs For Business

To achieve our mission of a circular waste model, ACE Recycling offers IT services, recycling, and data destruction.

Who is ACE Recycling?

ACE Recycling is an electronic recycling and repair company serving Arizona. We provide our community with an environmentally responsible option to dispose of electronic equipment.  We accept electronic equipment (working or not working).  ACE Recycling is committed to a circular economy, education, community, and security. In a genuinely circular economy, items would be reused, refurbished or repaired, before the last resort of destruction.  To this end, ACE Recycling offers IT services, computer repair, and low-cost electronics. The circular model for electronics could reduce the costs for consumers by 7% by 2030 and 14% by 2040.  

We are a small, family-owned business that values good-old-fashioned customer service. Run by husband and wife team, John and Shelby Maguire, Our mission is to keep electronic waste out of landfills. With backgrounds in science, education, and IT, John and Shelby bring the tools needed to the table. These tools allow ACE Recycling to offer services spanning the life of your electronic devices.

Community-Centered Approach

ACE Recycling is proud to offer a service that benefits our community as a whole. By taking unwanted and unused electronics, we are keeping them out of our local landfill. When electronics sit in landfills, the toxic heavy metals and flame retardants contained within them leach into our land and water. By reusing and properly recycling electronics, we are doing our part to protect and soil and water for future generations.

In addition, Our IT department can fix and upgrade computers that would otherwise be unused-allowing us to provide our community with affordable technology options. This approach is called a circular waste model and helps the environment and our communities.

ACE provides Recycling and IT services to reduce electronic waste.
ACE provides Recycling and IT services to reduce electronic waste.

Your Sustainability Partner

According to a 2018 Neilsen report, consumers are using their spending power to effect the change they want to see. 85% of respondents between the ages of 21-34 and 79% between the ages of 35-49 say “that it is “extremely” or “very” important that companies implement programs to improve the environment.” ACE Recycling would like to partner with your business to help you achieve your sustainability goals. Together we can help eliminate toxins in our environment and create a successful sustainability program for your company. Our IT services, recycling, and data destruction offers you a complete solution to your technology needs.

IT Services:

Electronic Refurbishing  & Resale–  

Extending the life of electronics or harvesting the resources from them is far more sustainable than the current system, not to mention it has a more substantial economic benefit. For a fraction of the cost of new equipment, ACE Recycling can upgrade your existing computers. Merely changing out the hard drive on your computer can increases speed and performance.

Our IT department can fix and upgrade computers that would otherwise be unused—allowing us to provide our community with affordable technology options. This approach is called a circular waste model and helps the environment and our communities.
Our IT department can fix and upgrade computers that would otherwise be unused—allowing us to provide our community with affordable technology options. This approach is called a circular waste model and helps the environment and our communities.
Electronic Repair –

Fixing electronics is daunting to most people. However, it is more cost-effective and better for the environment to fix your electronics. Our IT team can fix just about anything. With 20+ years of IT experience, our technicians can troubleshoot over the phone in most cases.

Electronic Equipment Removal and Pick-Up –

ACE will come to your facility and pick up your unwanted/unused electronics AT NO COST TO YOU, with a qualifying load. Our crew will palletize and pack your electronic waste and load it onto a truck. We do the heavy lifting!

Data Destruction and Reporting –

The industry ACE Recycling is in is called IT Asset Disposition (ITAD). The focus of the ITAD industry is the secure removal of data. More recently, it has become central to the idea of a circular economy. The standard for data destruction is set by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) report Guidelines for Media Sanitization. According to the National Security Agency (NSA), data wiped using these standards is “permanently destroyed as to make any type of forensic data recovery impossible.”

ACE Recycling adheres to industry specifications to erase data. We use a three-pass overwrite with verification, completed using software.  This verification comes in the form of a serialized print out of devices subject to the sanitization process. When ACE Recycling takes your electronic device, it is never booted up. Complete data erasure destroys all data, including operating systems. What is data wiping, and is it secure?

www.aceewaste.com - 623.907 - Electronic Recycling, Repair and IT Services
www.aceewaste.com – 623.907.5430 – Electronic Recycling, Repair, and IT Services
Parts Harvesting and Material Recovery –

We dismantle electronics that cannot be repaired or refurbished; this includes harvesting metals and plastics. Our partnerships allow us to recycle virtually all materials. ACE Recycling has close relationships with companies who are experts at harvesting materials for reuse. As part of our mission to protect the environment, ACE Recycling has carefully selected transparent and responsible partners.

Electronic waste is the most significant growing waste stream in the world. Annually electronic waste is worth $62.5 billion, which is more than the GDP of most countries. Unfortunately, only 20% of the electronic waste produced is recycled properly. There is 100 times more gold in a ton of mobile devices than in a ton of gold ore. Extracting those metals is vital to lessening our impact on the environment and ensures future supply.