Over the past couple of decades, technology has been evolving at an exponential rate.
This is great because improving technology increases our capabilities and allows us to do things we would not be able to do if we decided not to push the limits of technology.
A great example of this is your Television Set.
From the humble CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) televisions, to the newer LED televisions, technology has improved a lot.
The newer LED televisions are more efficient, safer, take up less space in your lounge, have higher definition, internet connectivity and many more benefits compared to the older CRT.
Had if we decided that the CRT television was good enough we would not have all the benefits of newer LED televisions.
However, there is a dark side when it comes to technology evolving at such a rapid pace.
The constant evolving of technology means that, when there is a newer, better version of the electronic device we own, the older version gets tossed away.
The dawn of the LED television, saw the older CRT television, tossed into the garbage.
But, throwing your old tv(or any other electronic device) into the trash is not the right way to dispose of it.
Electronic devices like your old tv contain hazardous materials that are harmful to the environment.
Fear not, you are not stuck with your old tv forever. Thankfully, there are dedicated recycling centers that specialize in ‘e-waste’ (electronic waste) recycling.
Why is throwing electronics in trash bad?
We all know that electronic devices come with instruction manuals that let you know how to use them.
But, only some of them contain information that you need to recycle them. However, ‘recycle’ is a broad term that covers many materials from paper, glass, plastic etc, which I will cover in the next section.
You might have a dedicated recycling bin at home, but throwing your electronic devices in there might not be a good idea.
Electronic devices like your old tv, contain many toxic, and harmful substances. These substances include, lead, cadmium, beryllium and mercury, nickel, zinc and many more.
If these devices do not get properly recycled, they end up in landfills which can lead to the dangerous chemicals inside them leaking and contaminating the soil, air and water.
Chemicals such as lead, zinc and nickel, if released into the environment can cause damage to human blood, kidneys, as well as the central nervous system.
When electronic waste sits in landfills during hotter conditions, they get warmed up and their chemicals are released into the air damaging the atmosphere. This damage to the atmosphere adds to global warming.
Also, when this waste is left to sit in landfills, their toxic materials leak into waterways which affect both land and sea animals. This can also end up contaminating the water you drink.
The simple matter of fact is that electronic waste that sits in landfills are harmful for the environment, wildlife and humanity.
Sometimes, electronic devices sitting in landfills end up being shipped to third world countries where they again get dumped in landfills.
Children of poor families have to resort to looking for metals in these landfills to try and earn a living. But, these metals are harmful to their health.
Different types of recycling
To better understand how recycling of e-waste works, let us take a look at the other more well known forms of recycling.
Knowing and understanding the different types of recycling will better equip you with knowledge of whether you can throw e-waste in your normal recycling or not.
What is recycling?
In its simplest definition, recycling is taking waste material and converting into new objects.
The ability of a material to be recycled ( or its recyclability) all depends if the material, when recycled, can return to its original state (where it has the same properties when it was first used).
So, essentially paper after being used, would be able to be recycled back to paper.
Recycling has the benefits of lowering energy usage, air pollution, and water pollution. It helps reduce greenhouse gases where normal waste disposal cannot.
Since materials are reused, this means that the overall waste in landfills is reduced further reducing the risks of affecting the environment.
Most of us are familiar with things like paper, cardboard, and glass when it comes to recycling materials.
But, there are many different categories of recycling which include, paper and cardboard, plastic, metal, glass, wood and electronic waste. There are many other categories, but these are the most common.
Paper and Cardboard
These are the two types of materials we most commonly think of when recycling is mentioned.
Every tonne of paper and cardboard recycled can save up to 17 trees!
70% less energy is used to convert old paper into newer recycled paper.
Plastic
Recycling of plastic is crucial as there are 50 different groups of plastic, with many different varieties.
The underlying issue is that most plastics are not degradable. They take hundreds of years to break down.
They end up scattered all over the place from forests, oceans, lakes, and many other areas where they cause harm to wildlife and the environment.
So, recycling plastic can solve this problem.
Metal
Metals can be divided into two groups for recycling ; ferrous and non-ferrous.
Recycling metals can save a lot of energy and prevent them from sitting in landfills.
When they get sent to a recycler they get sorted into ferrous and non-ferrous groups.
Ferrous metals include Iron and Steel.
Non-Ferrous metals include aluminium, copper, stainless steel, brass and lead.
Glass
Glass is another material synonymous with recycling.
If not recycled, glass can take up to a million years to fully decompose. This is not good news for our environment.
There is a silver lining though. Glass is 100% recyclable.
What this means is that it can be recycled to its original state without losing any of its purities and not degrading its quality.
So, make sure to recycle glass whenever possible. This includes glass items such as, bottles, jars, drinking glasses etc.
Wood
Wood is a versatile material. When it is not not needed for its primary uses, it can be recycled and used in many different ways.
It can be used as a building material, recycled into mulch, or used as fuel to generate energy.
A lot of wood is thrown away and hardly recycled.
Recycling wood means that more trees will be saved from being cut down.
Electronic Waste
Electronic waste, or, e-waste as it is most commonly referred to, is another category of materials that can be recycled.
As we saw above the harm that e-waste causes, if not properly disposed of.
E-waste includes items like your TV, mobile phone, Laptop etc.
Recycling correctly
So we can see there are multiple materials that can be recycled to help conserve energy and save the environment in more than way.
Depending on where you live in the world and the guidelines put in place from your government you will have a normal trash bin and a recycling bin.
As an example, here is a list of things you can throw in your recycling bin in Auckland, New Zealand (the country I live in):
- Glass bottles and glass jars
- Tin, steel, and aluminium cans
- Plastic bottles from your kitchen, bathroom and laundry (plastic grades 1-7)
- Clear plastic food containers
- Pizza boxes (remove left over food)
- Newspapers, magazines, advertising mail and envelopes
- Paper and cardboard packaging
- Egg Cartons
- Milk and juice cartons
This list was acquired from the Auckland Council website.
But, these guidelines will hold true for many other countries because recycling is a standard that does not drastically change from one country to another.
If you are unsure of what you can and cannot throw in your recycling bin, consult your local council’s guide on recycling.
From the previous section we saw the different materials that can be recycled. However, throwing all of them in the same recycling bin is not the right process.
They all have dedicated recycling facilities that deal with either one or more of those materials.
How to recycle an old tv?
So, now you know throwing away your e-waste in your recycling bin with other recyclable items such as paper, cardboard, glass etc, is not the right way to dispose of it.
So how can you dispose of that old tv that is sitting in your garage collecting dust?
The good news is that there are dedicated e-waste recycling facilities that specialise in recycling e-waste.
As we know most electronic devices are complicated pieces of equipment that contain many different materials from plastic, to metals and chemicals.
When you hand over that old tv yours to an e-waste recycling facility, they break down and separate all materials into what can be recycled and what cannot.
The materials that cannot be recycled are sent to the landfill.
Does your city have an E-waste recycler?
Generally, most cities will have dedicated recycling facilities that specialise in the disposal of electronic goods.
A quick search of ‘e-waste recycling near me’ on a search engine like google will give you information if there is one near you.
Many companies are becoming more eco-friendly and accept old electronic goods you might have bought from them before.
They then recycle those old electronic goods and follow the same process that an e-waste facility would do.
So, next time you go to buy a new tv, check with the store if they accept that old tv of yours.
What e-waste can be recycled?
Anything that is battery powered or powered using electricity is considered an electronic/electrical device falling under the umbrella of e-waste, and should be disposed of properly.
Devices such as household appliances from your microwave, toaster, fridge, washing machine etc.
Consumer electronics from mobile phones, laptops, televisions, gaming consoles and many more.
The list can go on and on, but you get the gist of it.
Does it cost to recycle that old tv?
Again, whether you get charged for certain items varies from recycler to recycler.
But the general rule of thumb is that most items are free of charge.
However, some items like your tv, contain hazardous materials, and in order to keep the process of recycling them environmentally friendly, require special treatment which costs a certain amount of money.
So it is common for an e-waste recycling facility to charge you to cover this cost.
Prices can range from $5 – $30.
Alternatives of recycling?
Recycling your old tv does not necessarily mean that you have to hand it over to an e-waste recycling facility to dispose of it.
There are other alternatives available to you.
Donate
Donating your old electronics could be one of the best alternatives.
The technology might have passed its prime for you, but, for someone else it could change their world.
Ask your family, friends, if they might need what you are trying to dispose of. Or, maybe they might know someone who might benefit from having that old tv of yours.
You could also check your local charity organizations like Salvation Army if they accept old electronics as donation.
Garage/ Yard Sale
The old adage, ‘one man’s trash, is another man’s treasure’, definitely holds true.
You might see that old tv of yours as a useless piece of equipment, but, for someone else it could be the treasure they have been searching for all this time.
You will also benefit from making some extra cash.
Salvage for parts
A tv, or any other electronic device might be outdated, but it still contains many parts and components that can be salvaged and used in other ways.
Maybe you are a maker, or tinkerer. Many components inside an old tv and other electronic devices can be potentially used for your next project, saving you money from having to buy new parts and components.
Or, you could be studying to be an Engineer/Electrical. Taking apart old electronics will give you a chance to learn how they work (from my experience this is the best way to learn)
Always be careful when taking apart devices. Check online for safety procedures when doing so.
Conclusion
Technology evolving quickly has great advantages.
However, one of the biggest downsides is that we have an ever growing pile of electronics like old tvs, laptops, mobile phones, toasters etc, that need to be disposed of.
If not disposed of properly however, these old electronics end up in landfills which is not good for the environment, wildlife and humanity.
The good news is that there are dedicated e-waste recyclers who can take your old tv, disassemble, and recycle it.
So it comes down to each individual to not just throw electronics into the trash, but to properly recycle them.
