Recycling Your Old CRT Monitor
You will want to give some serious thought to the way in which you dispose of your old computer monitor because the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not allow cathode ray tubes (CRTs) to be deposited in a landfill. The lead, cadmium, and mercury they contain are considered to be highly toxic, although they served a purpose when the monitor was in use. If anyone violates that prohibition and a CRT is exposed to the elements, the toxins it contains, which will not decompose naturally, can react by contaminating the air, ground water, and soil on a long-term basis.
What you can do
Many acceptable alternatives for disposing of your monitor are available, and it is a problem that is easy to solve. For example, you can donate it to a worthy cause or take it to a recycling center. In any case, you should not dismantle your monitor, because it can explode and cause severe harm if it is damaged in any way.
You can also visit Earth911.com to find a recycling center in your area. The monitor page provides valuable information on recycling, along with a search engine. Also, the Reconnect Partnership, which is a combined effort on the part of Goodwill Industries and Dell, accepts monitors to be recycled as well, and you can do a search there. In addition, the EPA has an impressive list of sources for donating and recycling electronic equipment.
Reuse is really the way to go
When we envision the recycling process, we think of an object being taken apart, pounded to bits, and then melted into a new substance, and this is generally true. Reuse should be more appealing to you, and that may be what you want to do with your old monitor. In fact, if you advertise your free equipment on Craigslist, you may be pleasantly surprised at the number of responses you receive.
Other options
If you bought your monitor as part of a desktop-computer package, you may discover that the manufacturer has their own recycling program. Some companies—such as Gateway and Dell—have the policy of recycling computer components free of charge, or for a nominal fee. If this interests you, visit the company’s website or call for the information you need.
IBM also offers two solutions for those who want to dispose of their old computer equipment, and both of them are environmentally friendly. Through a program called Asset Recovery Solutions, the company buys back certain equipment and determines the price, based on its market value. (Note that if you go this route, you will be responsible for shipping charges.) In this case, there must be a market for resale, and you can visit IBM’s website for a list of minimum specifications. The company will also give you an individual quote based on the details you provide.
In addition, you can be on the alert for recycling drives being conducted in your community. Currently, many towns set aside a specific time when residents can turn in electronic components they no longer want or need to dispose of them in an acceptable way. Some electronic waste can simply be reused, while some goes to computer recycling companies.