TV Recycling with ACE
ACE Recycling has partnered with COM2 Recycling to ensure environmentally responsible disposal of TVs and CRT Monitors. All TVs ACE Recycling gets are recycled by COM2, working or not. Our goal is to remove CRTs from circulation and ensure responsible disposal of flat-screen TVs. ACE Recycling pledges to maintain our shared local environment’s integrity by responsibly recycling TVs and CRTs (and all other electronics). We hope you do the same.
When looking to dispose of your TV, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, it is essential 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 complicated 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, the following fees will apply: CRT TV or Monitor $25 each, Projection TV $20 each & Flat Screen TV $5 each. Not sure what kind of TV you have? Find out here.
Other TV Recycling Options
Are you a Phoenix or Maricopa County resident? Did you know they collect CRTs for FREE or just $13? Learn more here.
Why Is There a Fee for TV Recycling?
Environmental Impact
Cathode-ray tube (CRT) TVs or monitors contain lead and phosphors. These materials are toxic and require extra processing to ensure these toxins do not get into the environment. The special processing is why there is a charge associated with proper disposal. Charging for CRT disposal is an industry standard.
Flat-Screen TVs contain less toxic chemicals. However, they still have an alphabet soup of substances. Compounding this is the sheer number of them. Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), a potent greenhouse gas, is used in the manufacture of TVs. According to a Consumer Technology Association study, in 2011, the average American household had 2.5 TVs, with 30% having four or more. More than 60% of replaced televisions in 2012 were still functioning, primarily because of decreasing prices and lightning-fast technological advancements. Technological advances drive consumers to upgrade versus holding on to a TV for 25 years, as with CRTs.
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. “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 trend 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.
According to the EPA. Only 33 percent of computer monitors and 17 percent of TVs were recycled. Consequently, according to an EPA report, lead, cadmium, chromium, and other aging circuitry materials account for 70 percent of landfills’ hazardous material. Remember that landfills are local. Meaning when a TV goes in the trash, it ends up in your local landfill. Consequently, directly impacting the quality of your water, land, and air.
Learn More
For more detailed information about TV Recycling and the reason for the price changes, check out our blog’s TV Recycling and Disposal article. It helps you identify the type of TV/monitor you have, explains the state of TV recycling in the US, and explains the devastating consequences of improper disposal. As always, we appreciate your partnership in our effort to protect our environment. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
TV Recycling in the US
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 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. It would help if you were suspicious of a recycler that does not charge you a minimal fee. The exception to this is municipalities, as they are recouping their cost through taxes.
