On February 17, 2009, all United States broadcasting stations will stop broadcasting in analog airwaves and convert to digital broadcasting. Thus, all analog TVs that are not hooked up to a converter box will no longer work. For more information to see if you are affected, click here. Given the economy, it is questionable how many people will use this as an excuse to buy a new TV and leave their old one at the curb to spend the remainder of its life in a landfill.
Sending your TV to a landfill has its consequence. They contain such toxic chemicals as lead, PBDE flame retardants, and cadmium that can leach out of our landfills. However, there are options that will keep your television out of a landfill. Until March 31,2009, all US households are eligible to receive two coupons in the sum of $40 towards the purchase of two digital to analog converters. Information with regards to obtaining the coupons can be found here.
If you wish to get rid of the set, Manufacturers Recycling Management (MRM) announced recently that it has established a nationwide recycling program beginning January 15, 2009 at 280 locations. At the moment, Pansonic, Sharpe and Toshiba televisions can be recycled for free. Others may be recycled for a fee. Vowing to make recycling convenient, environmentally safe, and efficient, MRM expects to have 800 location drop-offs by the 2011.
Each state has at least one recycling location. To find the closet location, click here. At the moment, Toshiba, Panasonic and Sharp are the first group of electronic companies to utilize MRM’s services to establish individual manufacturing recycling programs.
According to the website, MRM recycling locations take Panasonic, Sharp, and Toshiba brand TVs and consumer electronics such as DVD and VCR recorders for free. Most sites take all other brands for a fee.
The Company has teamed up with CRT-Processing, Creative Recycling Systems, and Eco-International to ensure that the electronics are recycled responsibly and no hazardous electronic wastes are sent to developing countries. In November, 2008, Sixty Minutes aired a segment exposing this very problem.
Before sending your television to the curb, take a moment and find your nearest recycling location. One less television in a landfill is one less source of chemical pollution our children will have to deal with.
Thanks to Heinz Weverink, Leftover Recycling Services for this tip.
Heinz Weverink says
January 10, 2009 at 2:43 pmThank you for posting this. I wanted to share that Leftovers Recycling is proud to be one of the vendors selected by the MRM group to help consumers recycle their materials. We are located in Gettysburg PA and will accept all Panasonic Sharp or Toshiba products free of charge. We accept all end of life electronics that are delivered to us. For televisions other than panasonic sharp or toshiba we do charge a fee depending on size. For those people need in our service area please send an email and we will locate a convenient collection center for you.
For additional information please go to our website or contact us: info@leftoversrecycling.com
Golf Irons says
January 11, 2009 at 5:46 pmI have an attic full of things I need to toss. After reading this I’ll be recycling it. Thank you for the info.
Charles says
January 11, 2009 at 6:03 pmI saw that 60 minutes piece. A friend of mine’s father is starting a recycling business targeting computers and medals. Talk about the right timing.
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Lynn from Organicmania.com says
January 12, 2009 at 2:07 pmHi Anna,
Thanks for publicizing this nationwide program. I had not heard of it, and it is sorely needed. My community had an ecycling event recently and it was a huge success.
Have you heard that Obama has asked Congress to investigate a delay in the transition to DTV? I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, they’ve run out of coupons and as a family with no cable TV and no plans to upgrade to a new TV, it sure would be nice to have a coupon. I’m in the same situation with my elderly mother.
On the other hand, that spectrum will be used for emergency communications – something this country desparately needs. Our emergency communications infrastructure is sorely lacking and we need to address it.
Lynn
janice says
January 24, 2009 at 1:04 amIt will surely come in handy, and hope everyone will support this kinds of organization to create a better future for the next generations.
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Golf club complete sets says
September 23, 2009 at 6:35 pmWould you personally recommend any MRM in NYC area? I have an old sony tv that needs to be recycled. By the way what’s the avarage $$ per tv?
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