are lcd monitors hazardous pricelist
That"s because it"s quite likely that you have a few old computers stashed in their somewhere. In fact, it"s possible that if you"re moving your place of business, you may have stacks of old monitors, PCs, and various other types of outdated and unusable electronics. So, what do you do with them?
That includes your old batteries, too, by the way. And those old computer monitors are actually toxic. That"s right - they can contain up to eight pounds of lead in their glass tubes. Not to mention that the inside of the tubes were coated with toxic phosphorousdust.
Many recycling programs have been established across North America, and they"re dedicated to making sure used monitors aren"t tossed in landfills to rot. And, some states like California, require that these devices and equipment be properly disposed of for recycling.
However, there are some things you should know about what your monitors contain, how they can hurt the environment, and how to find a reliable recycling service. Not all recycling programs are trustworthy, and it"s up to you to find one to whom you can confidently hand over your monitor.
Similar to CRT televisions, CRT monitors use the same core concept and technology. While they performed well for the time, almost everyone has switched to LCD over the years. In fact, it is now almost impossible to find and purchase a new CRT device.
Disposing of them is not simple, however, as the chemicals and components within CRT monitors are hazardous, even toxic, and must be handled and disposed of properly.
If left in a landfill, for example, these monitors slowly degrade, allowing toxic chemicals and heavy metals to enter the soil. From there, they can find their way back into the human ecosystem through plants and animals.
The most notable metal contained in CRT monitors is lead but they also contain cadmium, which is highly toxic, and small amounts of arsenic. Flame retardants used in the construction of many electronics are also highly toxic when disposed of improperly.
LCD monitors have largely replaced CRT in most homes as those dinosaurs went out of production as far back as 2007. But that doesn"t mean the LCD units aren"t detrimental to the environment when illegally dumped or thrown away in a landfill.
While LCD monitors are inherently stable and not a health hazard while being used, once they are disposed of they possess the potential for releasing hazardous material.
The international research team analyzed 362 chemicals used in LCD screens and found that nearly 100 have the potential to be toxic. These particles don"t break down quickly and have "high mobility" in the environment.
In addition, recent research has suggested that liquid crystal monomers - the synthetic chemicals that make LCDs work - contain a variety of toxic chemicals, which tests have shown can leach into the atmosphere.
If you have the tech knowledge, you can also revitalize old monitors for a new cause. If you have the time and patience, there are many ways you can try to extend the usable life of your monitor, as well as the potential to recoup some of its cost.
If your monitor is broken, obsolete, or otherwise useless, however, you will be better off recycling it. This isn"t always an easy process, unfortunately, causing many people to hold onto their old CRT monitors because they aren"t sure what to do with them.
However, you have probably long ago made the switch to LCD and the good news is that there are many recycling programs accept your old LCD monitors, as well as you ancient CRT, for a small fee.
The problem for recyclers is that CRT recycling is an expensive process that is not highly profitable. So, for that reason, many recycling programs must charge a fee to accept CRT monitors and televisions.
Keep in mind, too, that CRT technology was developed long before environmental concerns were a priority in our society, so they aren"t the most recycle-friendly devices.
However, most people are happy to pay a small fee to get these clunky relics out of their homes. Dumping them is illegal in many places, and curbside garbage programs are instructed not to pick them up. That leaves people with one option: bite the bullet and pay the fee.
A word of caution here: while many recycling programs do take these electronics off your hands, that doesn"t mean they"re doing the right thing with them. Some companies make their money by exporting CRT and LCD monitors to developing countries, where they are picked apart, burned, or left to rot.
While you could search online for environmentally-friendly recycling program that specializes in computer monitors, hardware, and other e-waste, we have a much easier solution. Just call the pros at Junk King!
The good news is that a junk recycling service like Junk King offers far more than just genuinely green recycling processes for old computer monitors. In fact, at Junk King, we take much, much more than just monitors and other types of e-waste; we also accept things like broken-down appliances and old furniture and even used mattresses.
We take just about anything and everything except for hazardous waste. And after we pick it up and haul it away for you, your junk is sorted through, organized, and recycled, if possible. In fact, we succeed in getting up to 60 percent of everything we collect a new life elsewhere.
Desktop computers - and those massive computer monitors - have been with us since the early 1970s but they didn"t become popular and more affordable until the early 1980s. That"s when we saw the Apple II, the IBM PC, and the Compaq DeskPro, among others.
While any surviving personal computers and monitors from that era are likely in tech museums, there are still a few out there. But their usability is miniscule and relatively useless today. In fact, there are generations of desktops, laptops, and tablets that are severely limited today because their compatibility is no longer sufficient.
No one knows how many computers and computer monitors from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s are still out there, but some estimates place them in the millions. Certainly there are still hundreds of thousands of them. And they make up a significant segment of electronic waste, or e-waste.
"Windows 7 is the latest operating system to reach “end-of-life,” or EOL, and become officially obsolete. This means no more updates, no more features, and no more security patches. Nothing. And it’s that last point that’s most important to you as a user, because running “dead” software can put your devices and data at risk."
So, the obvious answer is to upgrade to new equipment - desktop or otherwise - and get rid of all the old gear. There"s no point in keeping clunky, old computer and computer monitors around, right?
You can"t just throw them in the trash. That"s illegal in many places and it is hazardous to the environment. Which means that computer recycling and, more specifically, computer monitor recycling is essential.
"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."
LCD monitors outsold CRT monitors for the first time in 2003 and, by 2007, LCD monitors consistently outsold CRT monitors becoming the most popular type of computer monitor. The problem is that millions of these old CRT monitors are still out there, waiting to be disposed of.
"Its improper disposal can cause breakage of glass envelope which comprises of lead. When this chemical is unleashed, this can be a potential hazard for the environment. Another harmful chemical used in making CRT monitors is barium. Now this one is water soluble and if it mixes with ground water, it can pollute our clean water reserves. Barium is known to create cardiac irregularities, damage the nervous system, and increase anxiety."
While the CRT recycling process is still labor-intensive and tedious, not to mention potentially dangerous, the only safe method for disposal is computer monitor recycling. In addition, the process for computer recycling - the CPU tower and internal hardware - can often retrieve valuable metals and other reusable materials.
According to one recycling website, the keyboard, plastic or aluminum casing, cables, CD-ROM drive, power cord, circuit board, batteries and even printer cartridges are all recyclable computer materials. In fact, there is only approximately two percent of a computer that cannot be recycled.
Not only that, but we guarantee that your old computers and other electronics end up in the right place: whether that"s nonprofit for those electronics that are still functioning, or at a recycling facility to ensure your e-waste is disposed of in an eco-friendly way.
Technology is constantly evolving, bringing us new and better devices that leave us questioning what we ever thought was so great about those old ones in the first place. Last year’s mobile phones, TVs, and computers that use LCD screens are now dated by ever-improving models and a better grade of LCD – so replacing and upgrading the technology is important.
So, what should we do with these old devices and LCD hardware with a lifespan of 10-20 years that we now have lying sad and forgotten in the corner, in the attic, or out on the curb? Recycle them, of course! LCDs have their own regulations for recycling, so here are some tips on how to recycle your old LCD screens and devices.
LCDs that were manufactured before 2009 use cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) to backlight the display. These CCFL displays contain mercury, which makes them hazardous to dispose of or incinerate. Other electronic products can contain hazardous chemicals, such as heavy metals and brominated flame retardants. These materials can leak out of landfills and into groundwater, streams, etc., or can be transformed into “super toxicants” while being incinerated. Throwing away these types of devices can clearly be harmful, even today. There are still some harmful chemicals and materials inside electronic devices that will damage the environment if they aren’t disposed of properly—and many times, they aren’t.
Another big problem is that because of the turn-over rate of these electronic devices, LCD screens are just left sitting in landfills. Since they need to be disposed of in certain ways, they’re left to sit and waste away, taking up space in the landfills. Many states have laws prohibiting the disposal of electronic waste in landfills. Because of that, LCDs are likely to sit and rot, or be incinerated in large quantities. They also could be shipped off to other countries that don’t have these prohibiting laws, which is definitely not the best solution to the problem.
Many times, we get new and better gadgets before the current one even needs replacing. That old TV still works, still shows the picture clearly and there’s not a scratch on it. But this new one…well, it’s bigger. It has the Internet capabilities built right in and it can do backflips! Okay, not really, but the point is that we tend to get something new while we still have a perfectly functioning, but slightly older, model. Instead of keeping it in the attic, you can donate it or recycle it to companies and stores in your area that will take it. These places can resell it to people who don’t have the latest backflipping TV, mobile phone or tablet.
Since the issue was raised, there has been much research performed on the best method for recycling LCD screens. Different facilities have different ideas, practices and processes. Some of these processes include removing the hazardous waste materials from the screens/monitors; others believe in completely taking apart the device/screen piece by piece and seeing what can be resold or refurbished, then disposing of the rest in environmentally friendly ways.
Almost 98% of an LCD monitor can be recycled. All plastics are removed to be recycled into new products. Printed circuit boards can be recovered from LCD recycling and smelted to recover valuable metals, while cabling is stripped to reclaim copper and other metals.
Considering how frequently we get new electronic devices, being smart about LCD recycling can make a huge difference. General Digital encourages all of its customers to recycle their used computer monitors and televisions. Learn more about e-cycling from Maryland’s Department of the Environment, and Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection.
Senate Bill 20 (SB 20) (Sher), known as the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003, established a statewide program to promote and fund the collection and recycling of hazardous electronic devices beginning July 1, 2004. Under the new law, retailers will collect an advance recycling fee on covered electronic devices at the time of purchase.
The money collected will be used to fund an electronic waste recycling program that reimburses authorized electronic wastes collectors and recyclers. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) jointly administer the program. SB 20 identifies covered electronic devices as cathode ray tubes (CRTs), flat panel screens, and other similar devices that DTSC determines to be hazardous. DTSC’s Hazardous Materials Laboratory is now testing consumer electronic devices to
A preliminary report on the results of recent toxicity testing on laptop computers and liquid crystal display (LCD) desktop computer monitors indicate that these devices contain hazardous levels of copper and lead. The determination means that these devices will join CRTs as covered devices regulated under SB 20.
The lab’s findings are available in a report entitled “Determination of Regulated Elements in Laptop Computers and LCD Desktop Monitors for SB 20.” The report details how laptop computers and LCD monitors of different brands and models were analyzed. Testing methods included the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure and the California Waste Extraction Test. The results of these tests were compared to the hazardous waste regulatory thresholds for each analysis.
The SB 20 regulations and related information are available on DTSC’s Web site’s Laws page and on California Legislative Information’s site under Health and Safety Code, Division 20, Chapter 6.5, and Westlaw under Title 22 Division 4.5.
The Shelby County Household Hazardous Waste Facility is available for residents of Shelby County to bring their hazardous waste items. It is located on 6305 Haley Road in Memphis, Tennessee (38134). Currently, the facility is open to residents on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, excluding the holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. For further information, call (901)222-7729. The Household Hazardous Waste Facility Acceptable& Not Acceptable products list. Helping Protect Our Environment.
NOTE:Alkaline and lithium batteries are not accepted at CCRD office, can be placed in regular trash. See list on the right side of page for batteries we accept. We do not accept pool chemicals, oxidizers, or acids.
1-gallon of latex paint: $2.00 (recycled through American Paint Recyclers--latex paint can be combined with other latex paint only BY CUSTOMER IN ADVANCE if containers are partially full)
1-gallon oil-based paint: $4.00 (oil based paint containers can be combined with other oil based paint only BY CUSTOMER IN ADVANCE if containers are partially full)
Debris recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian are almost complete. Contractors are working through the final steps including volume reduction and removal of materials from the debris management sites, and restoring the sites to their original conditions.
Due to safety and cost, most household hazardous wastes are not collected curbside. Residents of Sarasota County may take accepted items generated from non-business related activities to one of the County"s Chemical Collection Centers for safe disposal free of charge. Proof of county residency (driver’s license, tax bill, utility bill, etc.) may be required.
Electronics such as monitors, stereos, speakers, telephones (remove batteries and dispose of properly), TVs and vacuum cleaners may be placed in the garbage.
Pharmaceuticals are no longer accepted at the Sarasota County Chemical Collection Centers. Multiple drop-off locations for prescription drugs are available throughout Sarasota County. Video: Dispose of Unwanted Prescriptions at SCSO.
“Hazardous waste” is a legal term that describes certain toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive wastes generated in manufacturing, industrial or other processes.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers simple guides to explain hazardous wastes and help you determine whether you generate hazardous wastes and are subject to regulation. Your company is responsible for making hazardous waste determinations correctly.
The Sarasota County Hazardous Waste Management Office works in tandem with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Hazardous Waste Regulation Section to provide compliance assistance to commercial enterprises within the county.
Project Green Sweep offers a responsible, cost effective method to properly dispose of small quantities of hazardous and regulated wastes that are banned from landfill disposal to qualified businesses in Sarasota County.
Businesses in Sarasota County may also seek alternative disposal and recycling options. A list of vendors can be found in the Hazardous Waste Disposal Business Directory (below).
Operation Cleansweep provides farmers, nursery operators, golf course operators, and pest control services a one-time safe and economical way to dispose of their cancelled, suspended, and unusable pesticides. Some of these materials are very old and in containers that are deteriorating.
Electronic and universal waste, such as consumer batteries, cell phones, and TVs are prohibited from the trash and recycling carts because they contain poisonous heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium that can pollute groundwater and pose harmful effects to public health. Please drop off these items at this facility for safe disposal.
It is illegal to put household hazardous waste in the trash or recycling carts. When hazardous wastes end up in a landfill, they can cause serious threats to humans, wildlife and the environment. Please drop off these items at this facility for safe disposal.
As buildings are constructed, remodeled or demolished, metal, wood, sheetrock, rigid plastic, and other construction materials can be recovered and made into recycled construction material.
Separate loads consisting of only non-commercial, California origin CRT, Plasma, or LCD display devices may be recycled at no charge. Non-commercial, California origin CRT’s, Plasma, and LCD display devices mixed with other types of solid waste being offered for disposal will be charged at the regular disposal rate of $219.86 per ton. Commercial Equipment & Devices refer to any industrial equipment or device such as electrical, automotive or medical diagnostic equipment, and arcade or casino style games containing CRT’s, Plasma, or LCD displays.
Color: Many people feel the light cast by a CFL bulb is ugly. Casting a yellow and blue tint, fluorescent bulbs are responsible for that icky appearance of your face in truck stop bathroom mirrors. Most CFL bulbs are color corrected to now compensate for this and special color bulbs are available. Mixing and matching bulbs from different manufacturers can also create color issues. This presents a challenge if you are slowly upgrading the bulbs one-at-a-time as they burn out.
Cost: Despite the obvious energy savings and long life of the CFL bulb, many people still feel they are too expensive. In reality, you are losing money for every incandescent bulb you do not replace with a CFL.
Theft: Lastly, building owners, hotel operators and office managers complain about people stealing the CFL bulbs right out of the fixtures. There is no easy way around this, and it is a real issue. Hey, these bulbs are popular!
Household users are typically exempt from these special disposal requirements. Regardless of the rules, never throw a CFL bulb away into the trash. Recycling opportunities are available in many towns and cities, either at local recycling centers or transfer stations. Contact your local waste disposal officials for details.
Palmer Electric Technology Energy Services: P.E.T.E.S. Palmer Electric was the first business located in Montana to offer recycling of fluorescent lamps. P.E.T.E.S. accepts spent lamps from businesses and residents for a small fee, and sees that they are recycled professionally.
List of companies that handle business-generated Universal Waste. Although there are out-of-state addresses, there are companies that do "milk runs" through Montana to pick up lamps for recycling from diverse businesses.
Fluorescent lamps are not the only mercury-containing products we use. A number of building systems contain it. Switches and thermostats in heating and cooling systems; measurement devices, valves, and flow switches in systems that move, store, meter, or regulate liquids; and fire suppression and security systems-often incorporate mercury.
Mercury-free fluorescent lamps are available using xenon; however, their efficiency is about 30 percent of that of a mercury-based fluorescent lamp. The energy consumed would ultimately produce more mercury that simply sticking with a low-mercury fluorescent.
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a tiny semiconductor that emits light. It looks like a small bulb, but contains no filament. Because of their size and low output, dozens of these LEDs are arranged to create enough light.
Although LED"s are twice as energy efficient as incandescent bulbs, they are still not as high as fluorescents. LEDs have an incredibly long life, some 30,000 to 50,000 hours. Currently, the costs are still to high for many uses.
As LED technology increases in energy efficiency and decreases in cost, you will see LED bulbs become very commonplace. It is important to note LEDs are the only non-incandescent light source that does not rely on mercury vapor.
A CFL uses 75 percent less energy than an incandescent light bulb and lasts at least ten times longer. A power plant will emit 10mg of mercury to produce the electricity to run an incandescent bulb compared to only 2.4mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same time.
High energy costs have driven consumer and business interest in compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). CFLs are highly energy efficient and can save about $30 in electricity costs over the lifetime of the bulb (and they last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs). Utility companies, state and local government officials and private businesses work together to increase consumer awareness and acceptance of these lights as a great way to conserve energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global climate change.
The small amount of mercury contained in CFLs is a necessary component which contributes to the energy efficiency of the lights. Industry continues to reduce the amount of mercury used in CFLs, and is expected to reduce the average amount below the 5 milligrams currently used. Aware of the dangers of mercury pollution, many consumers and businesses wonder if purchasing mercury-containing devices is a good idea. In the case of CFLs, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced through energy efficiency make a strong case for replacing incandescent lights with CFLs.
Reducing mercury pollution is important for protecting public health and our environment, and CFLs should be recycled at the end of their life. Recycling programs for CFLs are just now getting attention nationally and more companies are offering solutions. However, few community recycling opportunities exist for consumers. The links below provide information on proper disposal of CFLs and recycling programs, as well as energy conservation information.
Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) should not be thrown away with normal trash when recycling options are available. They should be treated as you would treatbatteries. This is because they contain trace amounts of mercury. The amount in them isn"t large enough to pose users a hazard, but it does become a concern at landfills, where the mercury from many bulbs could leak into the ground.
The recommended course of disposal varies depending on where you live, so consumers are advised to ask the local authorities. Sometimes stores that sell CFLs will accept back used CFLs to recycle them correctly.
It is interesting to note that coal power plants are the single largest source of mercury emissions into the environment. A coal power plant burning enough fuel to power an incandescent light bulb instead of a CFL would release more mercury into the air than is actually contained in a CFL itself.
If no options exist for recycling CFLs in your area, you can dispose of spent bulbs through your trash service only after placing the bulbs in a sealed plastic bag.
Whether you’re finally modernizing or just have a few clunky Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors and televisions taking up room and gathering dust, it’s important to understand the hazards they pose, especially if damaged. So, before you decide to move one around – and if you’re thinking about disposing of it yourself – it’s important to understand the hazards, proper disposal, and things to watch out for.
While CRT monitors are fine when properly packed in storage, special care should be taken when moving them. CRT monitors are one of the most dangerous pieces of household electronics to disassemble. Know the risks before doing either:
Risk of Electrocution: CRT monitors include a high voltage capacitor that can hold a charge long after being unplugged. The average color TV has 27,000 volts when fully charged, well over lethal level.
Heavy Metals: CRT monitors and TVs can contain anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds of lead per unit! Color CRT may contain mercury – commonly found in many electronics – hazardous if the screen cracks.
When storing Cathode Ray Tube monitors, never rest the monitor down or have the monitor pressing against hard or sharp objects. Always get a hand moving larger units – their weight and size make them dangerous to handle alone. CRTs were banned from Massachusetts disposal facilities starting in 2000, so they need to be taken to municipal recycling collection programs, donated, or taken to a collection center like NEDT.
You can learn more about these options in our post, What Are My Options for Disposing of Household Products?, as well as our Fact Sheets and Links page with information on common household hazardous products
If you’re dealing with electronics disposal or hazardous household waste, we can help. NEDT’s Household Hazardous Products Collection Centers can help by providing quick and safe service for all your needs, including a pickup service! Contact us today to learn more, including everything we accept. You can also call us at 866-769-1621.
Thankfully, there are very few hazardous substances with which residential consumers come into contact in the United States. A combination of regulation, safety measures, and standards of technology keep most safe. However, when certain household products are mishandled or disposed of improperly, they can lead to risks. Household lighting and electronics can contain mercury and other hazardous heavy metals: learn more about which to watch out for and how to handle them.
Because of the fragile nature of this lighting and the hazardous substances within, care needs to be taken when handling and disposing of these lights. Do not dispose of in your home, and if fluorescent lighting breaks, follow the EPA’s instructions for cleaning them up.
If you’ve got an old-fashioned large monitor or TV, it most likely uses a Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT). These monitors contain from 2 to 5 pounds of lead each! Beyond the hazard of the heavy metal, many CRT monitors can hold high-voltage charges for long periods of time that can discharge during dismantling.
Due to the hazards, including breaking of the tube, which can result in an implosion and then an explosion, make sure to handle and store with care. See our Fact Sheets for more details.
Mercury, along with the hazardous heavy metals of lead, beryllium, and cadmium, can be found in many household electronics that can make them dangerous if improperly disposed of. Some to keep in mind:
Many of these products may be banned from your local disposal facility, including CRTs. But we can help. NEDT’s Household Hazardous Products Collection Centers can help by providing quick and safe service for all your needs, including a pickup service! Contact us today to learn more, including what to bring in. You can also call us at 866-769-1621.
EchoWorks is a member of the Black Hills Works family that employs people with disabilities and provides electronic recycling services to Rapid City and the greater Black Hills region. Located on the campus of Western Dakota Tech at 800 Mickelson Drive in Rapid City, its hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm (closed on federal and school holidays). You can also us at 605-718-3000 or email [email protected].
EchoWorks accepts electronic devices including but not limited to computers/laptops, keyboards, and other components, flat-screen monitors, cell phones, tablets, DVR, Blueray and DVD/CD players, toner cartridges, and projection televisions. EchoWorks also accepts hard drives, which can be shredded. To ensure privacy, hard drives are logged from the point of collection to the point of destruction, and the customer can be provided with a certificate of destruction.
There are more than 1,000 toxic substances associated with e-waste. Improper disposal can lead to soil, water, food, and air contamination. E-waste is the fastest-growing hazardous solid waste in the world. Since January 1, 2020, EchoWorks has diverted nearly 35 tons of e-waste from the Rapid City landfill and employed two people with disabilities.
There is a cost to keeping e-waste out of the landfill, including the labor to disassemble, the shipping of e-waste to a certified out-of-state electronics facility, and recycling fees. We only charge what it costs us and to help defray the cost to our consumers, we are utilizing Western Dakota Tech’s trucking students to offer them training. Businesses with large quantities to recycle are encouraged to contact EchoWorks to discuss bulk pricing.
Click here for a price list and additional information on what electronics are accepted (and what are not accepted). Prices, which are subject to the ever-changing commodity market, are subject to change without notice.