lcd monitors cost money to recycle brands

For decades, American families spent evenings gathered around the flickering lights of cathode ray tube (CRT) television sets and connected their desktop computer towers to boxy, tube-powered monitors. But as technology has changed, these heavy, bulky devices fell swiftly out of favor in the last fifteen years, largely replaced by relatively light weight, sleek-looking flat screens. However, according to a 2014 survey by the Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse (ERCC), almost half (46%) of U.S. households still have at least one CRT television or computer monitor – and who knows how many of those are actively in use, or even usable.

As Americans continue to dispose of the roughly 5 billion pounds of CRT TVs and monitors currently in their homes, it’s an environmental and public health must to do it right. The best, and only truly safe way to dispose of your old tube televisions and monitors is through proper recycling. But, unlike the scrap metal and electronics most of us are more familiar with recycling, you’ll probably have to pay someone to take your CRT devices.

“One of the most common questions we get from customers is ‘Why am I being charged for this?’” says Marisa Head, spokesperson for Cohen Recycling. It can be confusing for customers, she says, because people expect to get paid for most scrap items, and they don’t assume TVs would be any different.

But it’s important for people to know: The costs aren’t new, and they’re definitely not arbitrary. In fact, if a recycling company is willing to take your TV at no charge, that could be a red flag. Here’s why you have to pay to recycle your CRT TV or computer monitor, and why it’s worth the money.

The monetary value in electronics recycling comes from breaking down consumer goods into component parts that can then be sold back into the manufacturing supply chain as raw material. Products like the old CRT TVs and computer monitors were typically shelled in wood or plastic, materials with little recovery value.

Still, many people understandably assume that because recycling companies can often pay to take computer towers and other electronic devices, they should pay — instead of charge — for tube style televisions and monitors. After all, these are still electronics, right? Don’t they have precious metals in their circuit boards and internal wiring?

The answer is yes, but not in quantities that make it worthwhile. “There’s a small circuit board with just trace amounts of gold, but you still have to be able to recover that gold, so you’re talking pennies, not dollars,” says Bob McCarthy, vice president of business development for Cohen Recycling’s electronics-focused subsidiary, Cobalt. “Then there’s copper wire, but again, we’re talking pennies, not dollars.”

But what really sends recycling the products into the net-negative is the cost associated with recycling their components responsibly. “Those old CRTs have lead in them,” says McCarthy. “It’s a hazardous material that needs to be handled properly, or else we end up with contaminants in the air and in the water.” These contaminants pose not just a threat to the environment, but to the community– and risks to the workers who must handle them.

The first step in recycling — taking the device apart — must be done by hand. While most electronics are placed in a shredder, which separates metals, plastics and other materials, human labor is required to dissemble CRT TVs and monitors.

Once the device is taken apart, the lead must be separated from the glass in the tube, a task that has proved difficult to get right. In recent years, four large companies that were handling the materials improperly have gone out of business, affecting the health of local communities by leaving large stockpiles of unprocessed material behind. Cohen partners with facilities that they’ve heavily vetted to do this work, but it’s nevertheless expensive – from labor, to shipping, to paying the company who will refine the material into something re-useable.

While Cohen is able to subsidize the costs of recycling some low-value products, such as TV remotes and old stereo systems, it just doesn’t balance with the CRT devices. “The products and commodities you get out of this once you dismantle aren’t worth what it costs to properly dispose of the finished product,” says Cobalt CEO Joey Fojtik.

If you or someone you know recycled a CRT television or computer monitor several years ago, there might not have been a charge. Companies such as Best Buy would accept these devices from consumers at no charge and have them recycled. But recycling TVs was never truly “free.” Most often, the costs were subsidized by the original equipment manufacturers. In Ohio, where most of the voluntary subsidy programs are going away and there isn’t legislation to mandate it, the cost is shifting back to the consumer.

But, your local recycling facilities — as well as your environmental and public health agencies — still want you to recycle those difficult devices. To encourage people to bring in their difficult to recycle electronics, Cohen partners with local organizations to host collection events every year. The largest of these is the annual PNC/Reds E-Waste Recycling Drive, which takes place each spring.

Just bring your electronics — including those CRT TVs and monitors — and a suggested donation of $10 or more to one of three drop-off points. (Typically, the charge for these devices is around $0.40-0.50 per pound, so the $10 donation can still amount to a significant discount.) In return, Cohen will take your device off your hands, make sure it’s properly and safely recycled, and send you away with two free tickets to a Cincinnati Reds game.

“We want people to bring CRT TVs and monitors in to recycle,” says Fojtik. “There are unfortunately a lot of people who are dumping them because it’s the cheapest solution. We feel confident that we’re doing it the right way, and it gives us peace of mind knowing things will be processed in a positive manner.”

Did you know? Electronic waste, including TVs, is accepted for recycling at all Cohen Recycling Centers year-round. Visit www.cohenusa.com to find the location most convenient to you.

Laptop computers and liquid crystal display monitors face a $6 to $10 "pre-recycling"" fee come July 1 under a new California law aimed at preventing hazardous electronics waste from entering landfills.

The fee is already levied on televisions, but state toxics regulators are testing cell phones, handheld video games, plasma screens and other electronics to see whether they could leak hazardous materials once buried in a dump.

Regulators ground up laptops and LCD screens, poured acid over the remains and measured chemicals that leached out. Copper and lead from the equipment exceeded hazardous levels.

The fees will be collected by retailers and sent to the state for electronics-recycling programs. Ranging from $6 to $10, the fee depends on the size of the screen. Any monitor larger than 4 inches or larger diagonally is subject to the fee.

"This determination and inclusion of these products into the recycling program will ensure safe, efficient collection and reuse of these electronic devices,"" said Ed Lowry, head of the state"s Department of Toxic Substances Control.

A handful of computer salesmen contacted Tuesday and Wednesday said the fees to recycle monitors are a good idea and wouldn"t deter buyers. But a few thought manufacturers should bear the burden, not consumers.

"You just can"t put any more on the consumer. The manufacturers, I"m sure, are making more than enough money,"" said Rebecca Avelar, a co-owner of the Computer Center of Hayward.

By April 1, manufacturers must submit to retailers a list of electronics that require a recycling fee. State toxics officials are still testing and expect more equipment will require the hazardous recycling fee.

Passed in September, the Electronics Waste Recycling Act requires that manufacturers reduce hazardous ingredients in electronics products sold in California and requires that the state collect fees on certain electronics to fund e-waste recycling programs. - Tri-Valley Herald(Pleasanton, Calif.)

Best Buy’s announcement this week that it will start charging for some of its electronics recycling may be a harbinger of the return of fee-based electronics recycling, due to lowered demand for components, the trend toward lighter products and a glut of the old heavy screens now cluttering basements across the country.

In a statement Monday, the retail giant said it has to start charging consumers $25 for each TV and computer monitor brought to their stores for recycling. The company has already operated the largest e-waste recovery program in the country, but Laura Bishop, vice president of public affairs and sustainability, said in a statement that the firm hasn’t been able to reach its goal of at least breaking even.

“The new fees will help cover the increasing cost of managing TV and monitor disposal through our network of stores, distribution centers and recycling partners,” Bishop said. “E-waste volume is rising, commodity prices are falling and global outlets for recycled glass, a key component of TVs and monitors, have dramatically declined. More and more cities and counties have cut their recycling programs for budget reasons, limiting consumer options even further. While providing recycling solutions for our customers is a priority, Best Buy should not be the sole e-cycling provider in any given area, nor should we assume the entire cost.”

Because two states—Illinois and Pennsylvania—have laws prohibiting fees for recycling, Bishop said her firm will no longer be able to collect TVs and monitors in those states. Best Buy will continue to recycle all other items at its stores for free. Bishop did not return a request for further comment.

The two-state ban could put pressure on legislators in Illinois and Pennsylvania, as public entities have had to close their electronic waste collection programs in the past year, leaving Best Buy among the only remaining option for e-waste removal. The communities say they can’t afford to continue their programs, and their neighbors then close because they’re overwhelmed by too much overflow. A number of municipalities in Kane County, Illinois have closed their collection sites in a falling-domino fashion as large electronics piled up beyond return system capacity. Similar closures are happening throughout Pennsylvania as well, such as in York County, which suspended its program in December.

The fee model may have to return nationwide for electronics recycling to stay viable, says Jason Linnell, co-founder and executive director of the National Center for Electronics Recycling. He attributes the problem to a large drop in demand for metals and glass—both components that make up the old cathode ray tube monitors and televisions—as well as the related, outdated model of basing manufacturer-subsidized returns on total weight. Returns of CRTs, which can run to up to 200 pounds each, allow manufacturers to meet total annual recycling weight requirements too quickly—leaving no incentive to continue taking in product when they meet their quota. With many of the private electronic waste recycling groups struggling to break even, the publicly funded pick-up points are getting overwhelmed while also incurring larger costs because they’ve got nowhere to take the product.

“There were a number of new companies that formed when commodities such as gold got hot, but since they’ve dropped back down, those firms have failed,” Linnell says. “But also, CRT returns have increased as the new, lighter screens and computer monitors get cheaper. This problem isn’t going away anytime soon, as we estimate there’s about six billion pounds of CRTs still left in people’s homes.”

Since many states outlaw electronic waste collection in landfills because of hazardous materials, including lead, in the CRTs, it’s feared that for-fee recycling could result in illegal roadside dumping. Hoarding also becomes a perpetuating problem, Linnell says, as the longer a product is obsolete, the less demand there is to recycle it.

“We have to figure out a national way to manage this problem appropriately,” he says. “If people were getting it free before, you have to be careful not to start off with a high fee or they will just decide it’s easier to dump it illegally. We might now see more fees charged, but they might go for maybe $5 to $10, something that’s affordable for most people. At the same time, we might need to revisit the current weight reimbursement systems, as well as encouraging other retailers to start recycling programs at Best Buy’s level.”

If you’re looking to recycle a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, which have been mostly phased out of the sales market at this point, it contains four to eight pounds of lead. If you have a liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen, it’s likely being backlit by small fluorescent bulbs containing mercury. Both are toxic metals that you want to keep inside the monitor.

This means it’s extra important to keep these monitors out of landfills but also treat them with care when recycling. Here are a few steps to take when preparing your monitor for recycling:

Unplug the DVI, HDMI or VGA cable from your monitor (as well as the CPU) to lighten the load and prevent tripping (for VGA, you’ll need to unscrew the ends). If the power cord can be removed, unplug that as well.

Place a towel or blanket down in the car and put the monitor face down on top. This will ensure that nothing breaks if you hit any potholes on the drive.

It’s highly unlikely that your curbside recycling program accepts computer monitors, even if it collects “scrap metal.” These screens are bulky and made up of multiple materials, so you’ll definitely want to check before putting them in the recycling bin. If your area offers bulky waste recycling, computer monitors may be accepted, but it’s a good idea to verify that they’ll be responsibly recycled.

The two most common electronics recycling certifications for North American recyclers are the Basel Action Network’s (BAN)e-Stewardsand Sustainable Electronics Recycling International’s (SERI)R2 Standard.

BAN has been certifying recyclers since 2006 to ensure that no electronics are exported overseas. R2 (originally R2 Solutions) has been around since 2008, and focuses more on certifying the recycling process and data destruction.

There are computer monitor recyclers that aren’t e-Stewards or R2 certified, but if you’re wanting to recycle with one of these certified companies, find a directory of them ate-stewards.organdsustainableelectronics.org.

Yes.Staples has been recycling computer monitorssince 2007, andBest Buy followed suitin 2008. Both stores accept both CRT and LCD screens, as well as other computer parts. Best Buy charges a fee to recycle monitors unless you happen to live in California.

As of 2017,25 (or half) of U.S. states require youto recycle some forms of electronics. Of those, 17 havebanned them from landfills. The good news is that every time a new law is passed, recycling becomes that much easier for residents in that state. You’ll likely find your city or county offers computer recycling events at least once a year (usually around Earth Day on April 22).

No, especially if you are trying to recycle a CRT monitor. The costs of breaking down these screens while responsibly removing the lead and/or mercury limits their acceptance by electronics recyclers, and many will specifically exclude monitors from their materials list.

If you can’t separate your screen from the computer processor, you should treat the entire system as a monitor for recycling. You’ll want to unplug all the components (keyboard, mouse, etc.) and find a recycler that accepts CRT monitors. This company would also accept the attached CPU.

When you have one monitor to recycle, a retailer may be most ideal. But if you have numerous screens, you should ask your office if it canplan a recycling drive. You can call an e-waste recycler to send a truck, promote the event to your neighboring businesses, and recycle all sorts of electronics at once. In many cases, the recycler will pick up your electronics at no charge if enough people participate.

Most computer monitor manufacturers are now offering take-back recycling, either by partnering with retailers like Best Buy, Goodwill or Staples, or through a mail-in program (usually only for LCD screens). You’ll want to search your manufacturer’s website for details on its specific program. None of the retailers mentioned above exclude certain brands of monitors, though.

Americans are spending more money than ever on electronics, and businesses and organizations are no exception. In fact, on average, businesses can spend upwards of 7 percent of their budgets on electronics.

Until recently, electronics recyclers could export plastic scrap to China and other countries to be recycled and made into other products. However, China—and shortly following, Thailand and Vietnam—have banned imports of plastic scrap over the past few years. That means recyclers don’t have an outlet for semi-processed plastics and now run into charges themselves down the recycling pipeline. To keep the service up and running, recyclers can no longer accept electronics for free.

Some plastics used to be valuable, simple to separate, and easy to sell for recyclers. But, that value is now dropping—plastics used in consumer electronics often have chemicals such as fire retardants that make them difficult or even impossible to reuse and recycle. Electronics are also composed of several types of plastics, making them difficult to separate. These plastics are also some of the least valuable materials in the items.

Printers, for example, can have upwards of four different plastics, which makes it difficult for recyclers to separate them. Black plastics—one of the most commonly used plastics in electronics—can be particularly hard to recycle, as the color can prevent detection of the various types of plastics in the object.

In response to changes in plastics and their value, some recyclers have moved to incinerating, illegally exporting, or landfilling these items, which has a negative impact on the environment. Responsible recyclers will spend extra time and resources to ensure toxic chemicals don’t make it into the environment and that plastics don’t end up in a landfill during the recycling process. Since there’s little or no value recyclers can get from these items, recyclers are limited to charging fees to offset the cost of the process.

Additionally, the value of plastic and other materials, such as lithium-ion (found in batteries), plastic fans, and CD Roms, is continuously in flux. While the value of some materials remains relatively stable, the unpredictability of the metals market also affects charges to e-recycling customers.

In addition to fire retardants and other toxic chemicals added to today’s electronics, our electronics are also becoming smaller and include fewer precious metals than technology produced in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Earlier computers, for example, were bulkier and had larger boards inside of them containing higher amounts of precious metals than today’s computers. Recyclers were thus able to pay for these computers and found most of their margin by dismantling them and processing the precious metals. Now, though, our technology is getting smaller and more efficient, with fewer materials used. Computers don’t need as many precious metals to conduct electricity or function efficiently, which means there’s less margin for the retailer to make.

Today’s electronics also contain more sheet metal than ever before—by weight, 60-70 percent of computers, for example, is sheet metal, which many recyclers must treat as waste. Unless the recycler is part of a larger company with a metal scrap division, they may have to charge more to offset their margin.

Recycling is a well-established industry, with many recyclers having been in business for multiple decades. With advances in the composition of today’s electronics, e-recycling requires new equipment, and that equipment can get expensive. Electronics recyclers have no way to add or replace equipment without charging fees for recycling materials, and without proper equipment, they can’t recycle electronics responsibly.

The highest cost of recycling, however, is the labor—while some e-recycling can be mechanized, workers are still required to run the machines, remove items from the machines, inventory materials and document the process, and otherwise run the show. There’s also the health and safety of employees to consider, which means protecting them from exposure to toxic chemicals and other potential hazards. All of these factors contribute to the expenses facing today’s electronics recyclers.

Responsible electronics recyclers have proven processes for secure data destruction and follow EPA, R2, NAID, and NIST standards for disposing of electronics. But, obtaining and maintaining these certifications isn’t free for e-recyclers—they have to pay to become certified initially, and are also required to run monthly audits. They need staff such as environmental and quality departments to ensure all standards are met for continued certification.

The cost of data destruction is also steep for electronics recyclers. Some companies, such as Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction, assume liability for your data. Once you turn it over to us, we are completely liable for your data, and we need insurance to take on liability. Since we understand the risks associated with handing over your electronics, we provide certificates of destruction. Put simply, it costs to recycle electronics the right way.

While we may think e-recycling should be free due to sustainability benefits and environmental stewardship, e-recycling is still a business. Much like trash removal, e-recycling is a service that requires fees for disposing of items.

There are some fixed costs that e-recyclers cannot control, such as freight and cost of transport. But, the right e-recycling partner can provide consultation on how to mitigate other costs, and they can provide other value, such as secure data destruction.

Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction helps businesses identify items of value and can recycle scrap metal, as well. One partner who consulted with Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction ended up reducing their $100,000 yearly recycling costs by at least 50 percent and expects additional savings in the coming years. We also provide IT Asset Remarketing or IT Asset Disposition, a service that refurbishes and sells your electronics, passing additional profit back to you or your business.

Want more information on how you can save on electronics recycling costs? Contact Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction to learn more about our processes and how you can benefit from making us your trusted e-recycling partner.

One of the largest recycling problems faced by most countries comes down to the sheer volume of computer electronics that are obsolete and outdated. With technology advances showing no signs of slowing down, it"s no wonder that businesses and home users are constantly upgrading computer monitors.

It"s easy to say that you should be recycling old electronics because it"s the right thing to do. But it"s far more important to understand the fundamental impacts that electronics have on our world when they end up in the trash.

The first thing that"s important to understand is how big of a problem electronics are. With people replacing phones every year and computers every few years, it shouldn"t come as a surprise that there are mountains of discarded electronics every year.

When e-waste like monitors isn"t properly handled at the end of its life, then exposure to the natural elements alone can cause many of the toxic materials to break down and evaporate into the air.

But even modern LCD monitors contain many different metals and chemicals that are perfectly safe when they are contained. But even small amounts of them in the open air canseriously damage animals, plants, and humans.

When monitors and other computer electronics are illegally dumped, or they end up at a landfill, then all those metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium can ultimately release due to heat, cold, and moisture exposure.

But heavy metals like mercury, lithium, and lead don"t just seep into the soil and stop there. Over time, gravity and water wash these metals further and further down until they hit the water table.

These are not problems that arise suddenly, and contamination often happens over many years with a gradual accumulation of the toxins. Once there are symptoms, a lot of the damage has often been done, and people can be left with permanent health problems.

OK, now that you know that those old monitors in the garage or basement could be a health hazard and that the right thing to do is to recycle computer monitors, it"s time to go through this simple process.

If there are loose cables still attached, or the monitor is still attached to a computer, then make sure you remove all the cables first. You can recycle these as well, but it"s best to keep them separate.

You need to make sure that you"ll safely carry and transport the monitor. E-waste can easily break, and it might have already deteriorated a bit if it"s been in storage for a long time.

Now is also a good time to check for any other electronic devices like printers, scanners, and DVD players that are just taking up space and never used.

Make sure that your old computer monitors are safely placed in your trunk so that they avoid falling or rolling around. Those external plastics won"t stand up to much force, and you can quickly damage internal components that contain the heavy metals.

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, then you can bring your old e-waste to the GreenCitizen recycling facility. The company has years of experience in recycling electronic devices and offers competitive rates.

The recycling process for computers and monitors starts with carefully taking apart the electronics into their individual components. There are plenty of plastics, and then there"s the glass and multiple circuit boards.

Separating these materials requires specialized equipment that breaks them down into a pile of metals and plastic. The metals can then be further separated and recycled as raw materials for the electronics industry.

This is becoming an increasingly important part of protecting the environment. Unfortunately, all electronics from your phone to your computer monitor contain many types of metals that often come from mines in third-world countries.

These mines often operate under devastating conditions for both the environment and the people that work in them. Making sure that the majority of those metals can be recycled from devices reduces the demand for such mining operations.

While some materials in these devices can enter the cycle economy, there are others like lead glass that can"t be reused. These need to be separated and then disposed of at specialist sites using containers that make sure they are sealed indefinitely or until there"s a solution for dealing with it better.

Public opinion and media attention, and through countries and states introducing legislation, have forced many manufacturers to create their own recycling program for electronic items.

While they might not take care of the overall breakdown of the materials, many of them do offer to take back old computer monitors, printers, hard drives, phones, and laptops for free or a nominal fee.

LGoffers a simple process where you can find a drop-off site near you or mail your monitor in at your own expense. The company accepts all electronics that they manufacture, and they partner with some of the largest recycling companies.

Dellhas created a unique approach in that they offer a drop-off and mail-in service where they accept any brand of products. Whether it"s a Dell computer or old Canon printers, if you can attach it to a computer, they will accept it.

Many major electronics stores now offer a recycling program where you can drop off computers, laptops, TVs, monitors, and anything electrical that you bought there.

Now, it used to be the case that you could recycle a monitor if you bought it at the store and had the receipt or if you were buying a new monitor. But it seems like that wasn"t enough of an incentive, and many stores now allow you to drop off several devices per day even if you didn"t buy them there.

Stapleshave a drop-off point in their stores where you can bring pretty much any old computer equipment for free. This is mainly for consumer products and other electronic devices, but it does exclude large kitchen and household appliances.

Best Buy also has a drop-off program, and this is an ideal option if you have a broken monitor and need to head to Best Buy for a new one. Simply hand over the old one as you head into the store, and you"ve saved yourself a trip.

Walmart is rolling out a new concept called the ecoATM. This will allow you to bring old electronics to a designated ATM and then turn it into cash, depending on the age and state. It"s a great way to see if you have some hidden cash sitting in your basement or garage.

In line with a long-standing Electronic Waste Recycling Act, municipalities in California have been leading the way through a program called CalRecycle.

This should be your first option if you have computer monitors that are relatively modern and still in working order. Many charities and Goodwill stores will happily accept electronics that could help out people with little financial means.

And the one thing that beats dropping off a computer monitor at a recycling program is to make sure that someone gets as much use out of it as possible.

Simply contact a local charity store or Goodwill and provide them with details about your device"s age and specifications, and they"ll quickly let you know whether they"ll accept it.

Not only will you do the right thing for the environment, but you"ll also help someone out to enjoy technology they otherwise might not be able to afford.

If you"re in the San Francisco Bay Area and have some old monitors from personal home use, then GreenCitizen offers a free drop-off service . And the process couldn"t be any easier.

You just need to fill out a form with the details of the monitor and computers before you pack them up. Then call to the drop-off point at the GreenCitizen Burlingame EcoCenter and wait for a member of the team to meet you.

Not only will GreenCitizen ensure that everything is safely recycled, but they can also provide certification of safe data destruction for any storage devices.

If you"re not within driving distance of GreenCitizen, you can still opt for ourfree and fee recycling program. What you need to do is separate the free to recycle items and place those electronic devices in a separate box.

Then weigh the fee items and fill out the mail-in recycling form. All that"s left is to pay the fee online and receive the shipping instructions. You can then use your preferred shipping company to have your old computer monitors and other equipment sent to the recycling center.

GreenCitizen has created a Green Directoryof recycling service providers around the country with an easy-to-use search function. You simply enter what you need to recycle and what your zip code is, and you"ll receive the nearest company that offers a business collection or drop-off program.

Yes, old CRT monitors can be recycled. In most cases, it"s not possible to reuse them with modern computers, but they contain toxic metals that should end up in the trash or landfill.

No, most municipalities don"t operate a curbside recycling program for your old monitor. Leaving a monitor out in the open can also further damage it, making recycling more difficult.

The penalty for not recycling old computer monitors is different from state to state and county to county. In many cases, it ranges from $50 to several hundred dollars, which should be enough incentive not to throw it in the trash.

Yes, a monitor can store data. This is typically more common with smart TVs, but some monitors also have similar functions that could store login details for streaming services. It"s important that you use a data destruction service for such devices.

The easiest way to get rid of working electronics for free is to drop them off at Goodwill or a charity store. If they are relatively new, then you may also be able to recycle them for free at a local recycling center.

You"d be surprised how many homes still have an ancient CRT monitor somewhere in the basement, and getting rid of such equipment is important to avoid any of the harmful chemicals being released.

I strongly suggest starting your recycling effort with GreenCitizen, and even if they aren"t close enough to deal with your old computer screen, laptop, or other devices, our Green Directory will be able to point you to your closest service.

Each Rewards Member is eligible to receive $5 back in rewards via Store Bonus for recycling or shredding performed at Staples® U.S. stores only. Eligible items to be recycled include adapters and cables, computers, tablets, monitors, keyboards and mice, printers, scanners, fax machines, mobile phones, digital cameras, ink and toner cartridges, rechargeable batteries, shredding and SodaStream® CO2 cylinders. No minimum purchase required. $5 recycling reward limited to once per customer per calendar month. Member may recycle multiple times however Store Bonus will only be issued for the first qualifying visit per calendar month. For in-store recycling, the Member must be physically present at the store when items are accepted by an associate to be recycled, and their Membership account must be identified. All stores are eligible for recycling and shredding and all Members are eligible to earn rewards for recycling and shredding. Store Bonus checks are issued monthly via the Staples Connect™ mobile app or on staples.com/rewards. Store Bonus may be redeemed at any Staples U.S. store by the expiration date printed on your Store Bonus. Store Bonus is not redeemable for cash. Staples is not liable for unclaimed or expired Store Bonus. Store Bonus cannot be redeemed for or applied against cash, taxes, credit remittance, shipping charges, custom printing orders placed online, promotional products, any purchases made on staples.com®, design.staples.com, documents.staples.com, design.staples.com/promotional-products, gift cards, prepaid phone cards, postage stamps, prior purchases, purchases made on staplesmobile.com or purchases on third-party websites.

In an effort to reduce waste going to landfills, Staples has created the Staples Recycling Program which offers Customers the option of bringing in select items to Staples U.S. stores, where it"s EASY and REWARDING to recycle. These Terms are an agreement between you ("Customer" or "you") and Staples ("Staples"), and they govern your use of and participation in the Staples Recycling Program.

This Program is available to all Staples customers that bring in Select Recyclable Items. Customers who are 18 years of age or older with a valid U.S. mailing address and a valid email address may enroll in the Staples Rewards® Program to receive recycling rewards for certain Select Recyclable Items that they recycle with Staples. The Program applies to Staples U.S. stores only.

The items that may be recycled at a Staples U.S. store ("Select Recyclable Items") include print cartridges, a variety of electronics, SodaStream® CO2 containers, select rechargeable batteries, select kitchen appliances and paper. The list may change from time to time, and the complete list of Select Recyclable Items at any given time will be available on the Staples website at: https://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/sustainability-center/recycling-services/. Some locations may offer additional recycling services. Items that are determined by Staples, in its sole discretion, to pose a health or safety risk will not be accepted. Staples does not accept products that are subject to a Consumer Product Safety Commission recall.

The Select Recyclable Items may be recycled free of any charge to the Customer. Customer may recycle up to seven (7) items per day. Certain Select Recyclable Items are or may become eligible for Staples Rewards. For more information on and terms related to Staples Rewards, please visit https://www.staples.com/grs/rewards/programoverview.

Select Recyclable Items include a variety of electronic devices. Customers that recycle eligible electronic devices at Staples relinquish all ownership rights in the devices when they give them to Staples to be recycled. Additionally, Staples is not responsible for any data left on devices turned in for recycling. The Customer is solely responsible for removing data from their devices, and the Customer acknowledges that submission of a device for recycling is at the Customer"s sole risk. Customer further represents that Customer either: (1) is the sole owner of the electronic device and of any data that was on the electronic device before Customer deleted all such data prior to recycling; or (2) has permission to proceed with recycling from all other owners of the electronic device or of any data that was on the electronic device before Customer deleted all such data prior to recycling.

Some Staples stores offer self-service recycling kiosks which permit Customers to complete their recycling without the assistance of an associate. Customers are responsible for following the steps to ensure that any coupons or Staples Rewards that would be awarded are attributed to them or to their Staples Rewards account. Customers assume the risks when it comes to participating in the self-serve process in those stores.

In order to comply with the conditions of The State of California"s Electronic Waste Recycling Payment program, Customers in California will be asked to provide additional information to allow Staples to submit the information required for the recycling payment. The provision of this information is optional, and Customer"s refusal to provide such information will not preclude them from participating in this Program or in the Staples Rewards Program.

For information on how we protect your personal information, see Staples" U.S. Privacy Policy on staples.com. Staples is not liable for unclaimed, expired, lost or misdirected statements or other communications from Staples to the Customer or the Customer to Staples.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Any Customer"s legal action against Staples relating to the Program may only be filed in the state and federal courts of Suffolk County, Massachusetts. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, then the invalid portion shall be deemed conformed to the minimum requirements of law to the extent possible. In addition, all other provisions of these Terms shall not be affected and shall continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

The Program is void where prohibited by law. Staples reserves the right to modify, revise or cancel this Program, the Terms or any part of the Program at any time for all participants or for any specific participant without prior notice. Staples" decision on whether a particular item can be accepted for recycling or is eligible for Staples Rewards shall be final.

The environmental impact benefit calculations in the Staples Connect app related to recycling programs are estimates provided for informational purposes only. Greenhouse gas equivalencies were determined by applying EPA"s Waste Reduction Model (WARM) factors and factors from EPA"s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator to average weights by item type. Actual impact benefits will vary based on a variety of factors.

At TeleTraders, we want to buy your used LCD Displays from you in bulk. If you’re older LCD Displays are still usable, consider selling them to TeleTraders to help offset your equipment upgrade costs. Give TeleTraders a call at

We are based in Georgia, but we work with companies all over the U.S. and are committed to offering the most competitive rates on logistics and used equipment.

When it comes time to update your office, offset your expenses and sell used LCD Displays. We will make you a competitive offer for your old monitors, LCDs, computers, modems, and laptops.

Our company is happy to purchase your old used, outdated LCD displays and monitors to free your business from the sometimes complicated electronics disposal processes. Please give us a call at 770-864-9179 or get a Free Online Quote to get started.

Even if you do not see your office equipment brand listed here, we will likely accept the items as a part of your offload package. Contact our team anytime to inquire about the brands we purchase from our clients.

We work hard to repurpose or recycle the working items to save all companies money on their equipment costs and reduce the consumption of Earth’s natural resources. Equipment with minor problems may go through our refurbishment process to restore its functionality and improve its appearance to be resold again.

Since we recycle and dispose of the equipment, in addition to repurposing and reselling the items, your items do not need to be in perfect shape to qualify for our many purchase programs.

If you do not have instant access to this information, do not worry – Our team will help walk you through the assessment process for each item in your inventory.

Our team utilizes industry experience to provide you with a fair and competitive price quote for your old used LCD displays and computer devices. We continue to upgrade our knowledge base as office equipment quickly becomes outdated in the constantly changing world of electronics. We team up with many companies around the world to quickly resell, repurpose, or recycle the LCD displays sent our way. Our efforts ensure the electronics remain in operation well beyond their initial run with your company.

When you sell your LCD displays and other office equipment to TeleTraders, we can also handle all of the packing, removal and transporting for the equipment, helping free up both your space and your time.

We understand that office technology needs change over time. The LCD displays and monitors that worked for your office a year or two ago may not be keeping pace anymore with your needs. We can help by offering you the best rates possible for your bulk LCD displays. Contact TeleTraders to get started right now.

We are proud to also offer full recycling services for your used systems, so equipment that can no longer be used is disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner.

When it’s time to upgrade your computer and LCD displays, you shouldn’t have to spend lots of time trying to figure out how to dispose of, sell or recycle your used LCD displays and office equipment – that’s where TeleTraders will be able to help you.

We handle all nationwide projects and provide some of the best logistics rates to help compensate, giving you the some of the most competitive returns on your original IT tech investments.

We can also provide a certificate of disposal for situations involving equipment that needs to be disposed of either because it’s no longer a valuable asset, or contains secure information that needs to be destroyed.

We request a detailed list of your used office LCD displays, including make, model, and quantity of units. Please, also include a photo of your equipment so we can gauge the current quality of the hardware.

TeleTraders is happy to accept most major and minor brands of common IT office LCD displays, office LCD display systems, and also other IT office equipment. If there is any question about whether we will accept your brand of equipment, feel free to contact us by phone or email at any time and we will respond to your inquiry as quickly as possible.

We are always looking to help businesses, small and large, offset the costs of upgrading their IT office LCD displays and IT office LCD display systems. In order to make an inquiry about a possible trade-in valuation, please Contact Us so we can work with you to evaluate used IT office LCD display gear. You may also Call Us directly for immediate assistance.

CalRecycle staff said their recommendation to raise payment rates was based on updated cost data submitted by e-scrap collectors and processors, as well as other factors. | DAMRONG RATTANAPONG/Shutterstock

Citing difficult market conditions and rising costs for the industry, California officials will greatly increase the rates they pay e-scrap firms to collect and recycle electronics.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) will boost the combined e-scrap collection and processing rate from 49 cents to 66 cents per pound for CRTs  and from 60 cents to 87 cents per pound for non-CRT devices. The portion of those rates going to collectors will increase from 19 cents to 26 cents per pound. The new rates go into effect July 1.

Under California’s state program, which is the oldest in the country, consumers pay fees when they purchase new CRT TVs and monitors (this is not happening in today’s marketplace), LCD TVs and monitors, laptops and tablets with LCD screens, plasma TVs, and portable DVD players with LCD screens. Last year, CalRecycle set the fees at $4, $5 and $6, depending on the screen size.

The money is then paid to companies that collect and recycle covered electronic waste (CEW). The CEW payments are made to the processors/recyclers, who pay the “recovery” portion to the collectors that brought them material and keep the “recycling” portion. Under the new CRT rate, collectors will receive 26 cents and processors will keep 40 cents, and under the new non-CRT rate, collectors will receive 26 cents and processors will keep 61 cents.

State law requires CalRecycle to consider adjusting the payment rates every two years, if necessary, so that they cover the average net costs of collecting and processing.

CalRecycle staff requested the increase in documents presented at a May 19 CalRecycle public meeting. In the documents, staff said their recommendation to raise payment rates was based on updated cost data submitted by e-scrap collectors and processors, additional stakeholder input, staff analysis of industry trends, and more.

The department’s acting director, Ken DaRosa, approved the increases on May 21. The department still needs to file information with the Office of Administrative Law before the increases go into effect.

Evolving end-of-life stream: In California, the weight of CEW recycled each year has been falling as legacy CRT devices are cleared out. CRTs still make up the majority of weight, but non-CRT devices are making up a larger percentage – they made up 1% of weight in 2011 and 31% of weight in 2019.

On the cost side, CalRecycle noted that non-CRT devices are more difficult to dismantle and require longer processing times. They contain materials that are hazardous waste or require special handling, such as plasma panels and fluorescent lamps. On the revenue side, they are lighter and have less material value because of miniaturization, such as circuit boards with fewer precious metals, according to CalRecycle.

Constrained downstreams: CalRecycle also touched on the fact that processors participating in the program have few approved downstream CRT glass recycling outlets; as a result, most of the glass goes to disposal, CalRecycle noted. E-Scrap News in March took a closer look at the downstream disposition of CRT glass from the program.

The department also described how China’s National Sword campaign ultimately reduced export markets for e-plastics. China curtailed scrap plastic imports as of 2018, prompting a number of Chinese plastics reclaimers to set up shop in Southeast Asian countries. But they couldn’t replace the capacity lost when China closed the door; additionally, many of those Southeast Asian imposed import restrictions of their own after their ports became jammed with containers of scrap materials.

“The effect of this is considerably depressed plastics prices,” CalRecycle wrote. “In addition, metal commodity values have been going down since 2018, further reducing recycling revenues.”

Coronavirus impacts: Lastly, regulators touched on how the COVID-10 pandemic has affected the industry, as well as uncertainty going forward. They noted that the crisis has reduced the amount of CEW entering the system, driven down spot prices for metals, and further limited export options.

“It is unknown at this time how long this current crisis will last and what overall effect it will have on the costs of collecting and processing CEW,” according to the backgrounder.

Last month, Roy Dann of Cal Micro/GLS Group, which participates in California’s program, described to E-Scrap News the difficulty of low ferrous and nonferrous prices, coronavirus lockdowns in Asian countries that import e-plastics, and difficulties even getting containers to export material. His company, which mostly ships recovered commodities out of the Port of Long Beach, kept having its bookings cancelled, he said.

Not many people know about electronics recycling. When their devices stop working, they simply throw them out or sell the parts to buyers who need them. This is easily done for cellphones, tablets and other small devices. It might not work as well for larger components, such as computers and their monitors.

If you prioritize sustainable living, then just throwing them out doesn’t seem quite right either. Maybe you much prefer to recycle computers. To do so, you need to employ the services of a company that recycles electronics. Here’s how.

People who are only accustomed to turning a monitor on and off may feel paranoid about unplugging any devices. Still, connections on a PC tower are a lot less complicated than they might at first appear. The first thing to note is that monitors can use many different types of connections to a PC. These includethe following:HDMI

Note that even if the monitor says it is a VGA connection, the other end of the cord may plug into an HDMI port on the computer. The best way to find out what plugs into where is to turn off the computer, locate the cord plugged into the monitor and follow it to the PC. Then, unplug it. There should also be a second cord that goes to a power source. Unplug that as well.

It’s only natural to feel eager to get rid of the monitor, but before you do, a little spring cleaning is in order. Most people don’t bother with cleaning monitors beyond just the screen. This is true even when they clean everything else on the desk. Because of this, some light dusting before sending it off is a common courtesy.

There are several ways to clean your monitors. Use a sheet of paper towel and some rubbing alcohol on the screen. The coating on the outside of the monitor may be a little more sensitive to chemicals, so try using baby wipes or a damp paper towel. Be sure to clean the back of the monitor, which is the area most often neglected. Also, carefully turn the monitor over on its side to clean the foot of the stand.

Some electronics recycling companies can pick your old monitor up as quickly as the same day or within 48 hours. However, to do so, you need to supply information about the device and get a quote. If you already splurged on a brand-new monitor to replace the one you disconnected, paying more money to recycle might not be immediately possible.

Finding a place to secure the monitor keeps it in good shape while you save up a few extra bucks to get rid of it in a safe and environmentally responsible way. The most common option is to store the monitor in the garage or attic. If you have a closet and the monitor is small enough, then this might work as well. Some people with large desks may store the old monitor beneath it. At the office, try asking IT for advice.

Choosing the right company plays an important role in determining what your options are. There might be several recycling companies in your area, so try to find one that handles electronics specifically. You can find them by placing an ad in the newspapers, using Craigslist or doing some quick research online.

If you’re in the Metro-Detroit area, then consider High Tech Recycling. We offer affordable solutions, whether you want to recycle computer monitors from your home or dozens from a commercial site. If you also have printers, televisions and mobile devices, we’re happy to take those too. To get started, fill out our contact form andschedule a pickup today.

If you have a broken TV or monitor taking up space in your garage, you’re not alone. Many of us, for one reason or another, find ourselves burdened with these devices when they meet their end. You can’t sell them, and you can’t put them in the trash—you’ve read about the e-waste problem and don’t want to contribute to it. So, what do you do?

Hopefully, you decide to take it to an electronics recycling facility, where they can extract the raw materials and repurpose them. However, when you come to a place like EPC, you might be shocked to find that dropping off your TV or monitor comes with a price tag. Why? Most drop-off items free, so why this cost money? Doesn’t the recycling company make money from recycling? Shouldn’t theypay you?

Unfortunately, recycling electronic equipment isn’t that simple. While someone might be able to make a quick buck collecting old soda cans, processing e-scrap requires far more work, with little profit for the company.

When your CRT or LCD screen is processed, it must be manually de-manufactured to remove universal waste—toxic substances such as lead and mercury which must be processed separately. One 17” CRT monitor can contain around six pounds of lead. While these substances aren’t a danger to you or your family when the device is in use, improper disposal can lead to harmful chemicals leeching into the environment. Manual labor, running and maintaining recycling machinery, and outsourcing the de-manufacturing of certain devices such as LCDs and printers are costs that add up.

You may still be wondering why it’s worth it to pay for proper disposal. After all, aren’t there other recycling companies that still take these items for free?

It’s true, some electronics recycling facilities claim to offer “no-cost” services and will take your devices free of charge. However, these companies don’t always handle end-of-life assets properly. Recently, dozens of defendants were named in a lawsuit against recycling companies that contributed to a massive CRT glass stockpile in Columbus, OH. Cleanup costs have been estimated at $18.2 million dollars, and forty-one electronics recyclers may be held financially responsible.

Our recycling prices ensure that each item is processed correctly without putting ourselves, our customers, or the environment at risk. Don’t worry, most of the items we accept are still free to drop off. Here is a complete list of what we accept free of charge:

We hope this clears up questions you may have about our recycling practices, and that you continue to make the effort to recycle responsibly. If you have any questions, or you need to recycle in bulk, please call (636)443-1999 for more information.

Electronics donation and recycling is a great way to help conserve resources and natural materials. It is important to make sure you are donating and/or recycling electronics safely and correctly.

Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials, including metals, plastics, and glass, all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves our natural resources and avoids air and water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by manufacturing virgin materials.

For every million cell phones we recycle, 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered.

Lithium-ion batteries and devices containing these batteries should NOT go in household garbage or recycling bins. To learn more about proper disposal of batteries.

Manufacturers and retailers offer several options to donate or recycle electronics. You can search for options on the following organizations" websites:

If your household or business is similar to many other U.S. households and businesses, you probably have at least one unwanted flat-panel or cathode-ray tube (CRT) computer monitor sitting around in your basement or storage room. Maybe you don’t know how to dispose of it. You know your garbage service won’t haul it away, and you’ve heard it contains chemicals that are bad for the environment. Now it has become a permanent fixture in a lonely corner somewhere. You hate to admit it but it’s true: You’re collecting junk.

But where do these costs come from in the first place? Some consumers may expect to get paid for scrap items and are surprised to learn that they actually have to pay to recycle them.

The electronics recycling industry exists to keep harmful chemicals from contaminating our land, water and air while encouraging the reuse and recycling of all possible materials. Ultimately, electronics recyclers aim to reduce our collective carbon footprint.

But all electronics are different. Devices such as cell phones, tablets, laptops and computer towers contain modest amounts of gold, copper and other valuable metals. However, the old computer monitors and televisions don’t contain nearly as much of these same metals so the return on investment is lower.

In addition, computer monitors also contain toxic materials such as mercury and lead, which require very specialized equipment and extensive safety training for employees who are involved in disassembling them. Consequently, the costs associated with computer monitor recycling are higher than other types of materials. And the environmental protection of this work is a value-add worth paying for.

The Minnesota Electronics Recycling Act, implemented in 2007, creates expanded opportunities for the collection and recycling of e-waste from households state-wide. Today, Minnesota is recognized as a top e-waste collector in the nation.

At Tech Dump, we have the privilege of helping to reduce our carbon footprint and keep Minnesota beautiful. We offer pick-up services in Minneapolis and St. Paul as well as convenient drop-off times at our St. Paul and Golden Valley locations. If you’d like to get rid of old computer monitors, televisions or other electronics in an environmentally responsible manner, give us a call at 763.432.3117.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection strongly recommends recycling all unwanted electronic products such as televisions, computers and cell phones. While Florida has no specific laws or regulations that apply to discarded electronic products, there are more general regulations that do apply. In a June 16, 2008, memorandum "Regulatory Guidelines for the Management of Unwanted Electronic Products," the department clarified the regulations that apply to unwanted electronics.

Unwanted electronics should be recycled to recover and reuse the product itself or materials like copper, steel or glass that the product contains. Other materials like lead (in the solder on circuit boards; in the glass cathode ray tube found in many televisions and computer monitors; in the batteries in uninterruptible power supplies) and mercury (in the fluorescent backlights in many flat panel displays) can be recycled to reuse the materials and to reduce the chance that these toxic materials could be released to the environment.

As more electronics recyclers open or expand their businesses in Florida, recycling is becoming more convenient and less expensive. Some businesses even buy unwanted computers and cell/smart phones for reuse or recycling.

Before flat panel displays became popular, cathode ray tubes (CRT) displays were widely used in televisions and computer monitors. While some CRT displays are still in use today, very few new CRTs are being produced as electronics manufacturers follow consumer and business demand for flat panel TV and monitor displays.

As consumers and businesses replace their CRT monitors and televisions with flat panel displays, electronics recyclers receive the discarded CRT products. Unfortunately, the market for recycled CRT glass has become limited. Recycling markets for CRT glass are limited, costlyand far away making CRT glass recycling a true challenge to e-scrap recyclers. As a result, some electronics recyclers will no longer accept CRT products. Many second-hand stores, such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army, no longer accept CRT products.

There are numerous electronics recycling companies that offer a wide range of recycling services and different levels of expertise to different types of businesses, organizations or individuals. How do you pick one that meets your needs? Even though the