Flatscreen TV plastic/junk disposal/recycling?

I've got a decent amount of Flatscreen TVs to break down and scrap.

I've always felt really bad about breaking down the plastics and putting them in garbage bins for standard collection.

Does anyone know of any way to recycle the TV plastics? Or any insight into what the components are?

(located in North-Eastern PA)

Unfortunately I have tried a bunch of avenues to look for plastic recyclers (even that would just take them for free!) and haven't been able to find anyone that would take them at scales less than a truckload (18-wheeler truck load). I tend to stay away from tvs for this reason, it is hard to get rid of the plastics and the LCDs, and it is actually illegal to throw LCDs in the trash. Most of the time if I get things with plasctic and metal on them I just try to leave the plastic attached to the metal and throw it into my shred pile for the scrapyard. Usually if it is at least 50% metal, my yard will take it all as light iron since they have that priced in.

A quick Google search turned this up.

https://www.okwenclosures.com/en/tec...ics_guide.html

I think you would have to sort through and figure out which is which. It seems pretty complicated but with enough time and effort .... you might become very good at knowing which kinds can be recycled and which kinds can't.

JMHO YMMV:

The global recycling industry is going through some pretty bad times right now. I wouldn't recommend getting into plastics recycling. You would probably lose your shirt.

You know how they say reduce, reuse, recycle ?

The better option here might be to reuse the flat screen TV's that you are taking in. It's the "better than scrap" option that they're always talking about. It's still a roll of the dice but you could make way better money selling refurbished units -or- tested parts. The trick would be to open up a market somewhere.

Recycling is generally the lowest paying option.

Originally Posted by kss

Unfortunately I have tried a bunch of avenues to look for plastic recyclers (even that would just take them for free!) and haven't been able to find anyone that would take them at scales less than a truckload (18-wheeler truck load). I tend to stay away from tvs for this reason, it is hard to get rid of the plastics and the LCDs, and it is actually illegal to throw LCDs in the trash. Most of the time if I get things with plasctic and metal on them I just try to leave the plastic attached to the metal and throw it into my shred pile for the scrapyard. Usually if it is at least 50% metal, my yard will take it all as light iron since they have that priced in.

Is the issue with the LCD's the tiny little fluorescent backlights ? Maybe they contain small amounts of mercury like the CFL's do ?

Maybe they would be okay if the backlights were removed and properly recycled ?

Originally Posted by hills

Is the issue with the LCD's the tiny little fluorescent backlights ? Maybe they contain small amounts of mercury like the CFL's do ?

Maybe they would be okay if the backlights were removed and properly recycled ?

I am not sure exactly which parts they do not like or are toxic, but in PA at least monitors and all electronics are technically e-waste and not legally allowed to go into a landfill. Throwing a toaster or blender or other non-computer related electronics are usually taken no problem but I have seen the trash people leave LCD and CRT tvs and monitors behind and not take them. There are 2 dumps near me that will take WHOLE LCDs/CRTs, but from residents only (have to show ID that has address in the county) and you can only bring 3 per time, AND they wont take them if you have taken them apart/are not whole.

Here is how i do flatscreen tvs. Cut the cord and leave the whole thing were it sits. then you dont have to deal with the screen or the plastic

Originally Posted by hobo finds

Flatscreens can go in with the shred around here

I bet I could sneak them in with my shred loads here.... but I dont think its worth it to risk any ill-will with my yard over it. I could always ask them though!

Originally Posted by kss

I am not sure exactly which parts they do not like or are toxic, but in PA at least monitors and all electronics are technically e-waste and not legally allowed to go into a landfill. Throwing a toaster or blender or other non-computer related electronics are usually taken no problem but I have seen the trash people leave LCD and CRT tvs and monitors behind and not take them. There are 2 dumps near me that will take WHOLE LCDs/CRTs, but from residents only (have to show ID that has address in the county) and you can only bring 3 per time, AND they wont take them if you have taken them apart/are not whole.

They've had an electronics recycling thing going on here for quite awhile now. There's a separate building at the transfer station just for electronics recycling. I guess you could say that we've been out there on the "bleeding edge" of the recycling effort since the 70's. The lawmakers in the state congress are pretty environmentally minded.

The system that's in place seems to be getting a bit ragged around the edges. It's not working like it did a few years ago. The stuff is still being collected at the electronics recycling building but it's not going anywhere. It's just sitting there piling up. The building is stuffed full and now it's spilling out into the parking lot. That seems to be the case with the other electronics recycling buildings that i've checked out as well.

As nearly as i can tell the whole problem revolves around funding and who pays for what. The electronics recycling effort isn't self sustaining. It needs to be government subsidized to keep it working.

To make a long complicated story short : The state legislature effectively cut the funding for the program and now it's slowly falling apart.

It's all rather sad.