If you’re upgrading to a new TV and are wondering how to breathe life into your old hardware, there are a few ways you can recycle your old TV. Earth day is a great time to appreciate the world around us and take a look at how we can recycle what we own instead of throwing it away. After reading about creative ways to recycle your old TV, you might look at your old and used electronics with fresh eyes.
Can you sell an old TV?
Before committing to recycling your TV, it’s worth looking to see if someone else can make use of your device. Due to the size and weight of older TVs, you’re often limited to local sellers and venues, with options like a garage sale or marketplace meetups being optimal choices. The best part about this is that oftentimes people will come to your house and take your old TV off your hands, and that means you don’t have to haul it out yourself.
Not all television sets are created equal, as a lot of our old TVs or electronics may not be of serviceable quality. I recently tried getting rid of a large CRT that felt like it weighed over half a ton and needless to say, nobody was running over to get it.
If you’d like to advertise your old TV before bringing home your new TV, here are some of the things that affect the value of your old TV the most.
- How long ago your TV was made and it’s age
- The size and quality of your TV screen
- If your TV is a collectors condition CRT
- The overall dimensions and weight of your TV
- Cable connectivity options like HDMI
- The brand that makes the device
Creative ways to recycle older TVs
If you’re feeling creative and want to repurpose your old TV instead of giving it away or selling it, there are tons of ways you can transform larger box TVs. Two of my favourite options are turning your TV into a colourful fish tank or a retro-style cat house or cat little box. You can even turn the TV into a decorative storage unit or use it as a changeable display piece, simply by adding a frame border.
There are plenty of tutorials online for various models if you need help coming up with a creative way to reuse your old TV. Last year Samsung even ran an Earth Day campaign for their smart TVs and Galaxy Phones. They showcased how the cardboard packaging had built-in instructions to be reused into functional and stylish home décor.
If you do plan on removing the inside of your TV, just make sure to search your brand and model online to check if it’s safe to do so. While it’s not a problem with most TVs, older ones or certain kinds can have hazardous material inside that you’ll want to handle carefully.
Recycling your old TV with Geek Squad
If you’d rather recycle your TV instead of reuse it, it’s important to make sure to do so in the right way. Responsible recycling is as easy as loading up the TV, taking it into any Best Buy store, and asking a Blue Shirt to process it for recycling. Best Buy will recycle all types of electronics including cell phones, batteries, computers, and more.
If you don’t want take your old TV or electronics in the store, you can always check out Geek Squad Electronics Removal Service. Geek Squad members will take away your old TV and do all the heavy lifting. This service is especially handy if you’re already buying a new TV from Best Buy as they can take it away the same day they help install a new device in your home
Reuse or recycle your TV: the choice is yours
One last tip if you choose to recycle your TV: before you ever recycle or sell your electronics it’s always a good practice to wipe your data and log out of any services. If someone ends up recovering the device they may be able to use your information to access your online accounts.
For even more green life hacks I’d recommend taking a look at the list of 5 green lifestyle tips for a more eco-friendly future. There are so many ways you can benefit from recycling your old TV and electronics, and there are even options like getting discounts on select items when you trade in your old hardware.
When it’s time to recycle the old and bring in the new, you can find a wide assortment of TVs at Best Buy.
