| After inquiring with my trash company about how to dispose of old
televisions I learned some amazing and scary news. Last I knew my company
charged $40 to take any television or electronic product. Now they are
not allowed to take these items at all. The company then told me about
a recycling company in a nearby city which still takes televisions.
I gave them a call and here is what I learned:
Me: I was told you still take televisions of any size?
Company: Yes, up to 3 at a time for now.
Me: Does that mean you won't be doing it much longer?
Company: Well, the biggest problem is the glass.
Me: Picture tube glass is leaded, right?
Company: Yes. No one wants it. There is a huge collection of picture tubes
at a remote location, filling up a plaza parking lot.
No one knows what to do with it. I can't even comprehend such a pile of
picture tubes.
'
Picture tubes are kept intact and not broken when removed.
These contain leaded glass, toxic screen phosphors and heavy metals. Leaded
glass
stopped X-rays during operation, which are unavoidable with this technology.
Company: No one thought that so many televisions are still out there after
all this time [with flat panels.] My competitors
no longer take televisions. We lose money taking these for people. We
have to disassemble each one to recycle it.
Me: Then what will people do to dispose of their old televisions?
Company: No one knows what to do with all the leaded glass and toxic phosphors.
So, there you have it.
Get rid of your old tube televisions now - or you may not be able to dispose
of those in the near future!
The company told me about a HUGE pile of CRTs that filled a closed
strip mall parking lot. He stated 100 million pounds.
Think your flat panel is far better? Now you are "green" with your
flat panel TV and computer monitor?
Think again: The video and movie images you have watched on your flat
panel televisions for years are produced with liquid crystal materials.
You have been staring right at liquid poison for all those years you owned
these screens. You computer monitor? Same thing.
If you have a first generation flat panel LCD or computer monitor, your
screen is lit with florescent tubes, which although smaller than a wood
pencil, contact the mercury and toxic phosphors as your old television
picture tubes, screw-in florescent bulbs and florescent tubes in light
fixtures.
Some day, the recycling issue with flat panel screens contain toxic liquid
crystal materials and florescent tubes will arise.
Ted Twietmeyer |
