With full-power television stations set to switch from analog to digital broadcasting on Feb. 17, 2009, what should be done with all the analog TVs?
Darlene Steele, coordinator of Madison and Union counties’ Recycling and Litter Prevention programs, has received nearly 70 calls in the last two months from people asking that exact question.
One of her solutions has been to schedule a television recycling day, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Madison County Fairgrounds in London. The event is coupled with an e-waste recycling collection for computers and other related items.
“The company that is conducting the collection, Ohio Computer Recycling, says they will be able to recycle 80 percent of the TVs,” Steele said.
There is not much market for certain parts of older televisions, such as the leaded glass fronts, which means they likely will be discarded. For this reason, Ohio Computer Recycling will charge $10 per television (any size) that is dropped off at the collection.
While recycling is one way to go with the analog televisions, Steele suggests two other possibilities that involve keeping the older sets.
“I plan to get the converter box so that I can keep my same TV,” she said, also offering up the idea of dedicating analog sets to playing movies or video games.
The digital-to-analog converter boxes will allow people who rely on antennas to keep their current televisions and watch over-the-air TV. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has a converter box coupon program. Between Jan. 1, 2009, and March 31, 2009, all U.S. households will be eligible to request up to two coupons, worth $40 each, to be used toward the purchase of up to two, digital-to-analog converter boxes. For more information, go to www.DTV2009.gov.
E-Waste Recycling Collection
The other half of the Oct. 18 recycling day will focus on computers and related items. The list of acceptable drop-offs is as follows:
• Computers
• Servers
• Monitors
• Keyboards
• Mice
• Speakers
• Printers/Faxes
• Copiers of all sizes
• Cell phones
• Scanners
• UPS and battery
backup systems
“Ninety-five to 98 percent of each computer will be recycled,” Steele said. “The plastic casing is crushed into a powder and mixed with cement and other substances. The metal components are melted down.”
Steele emphasized that the collection day is solely about e-waste and TVs. Household hazardous waste, tires and appliances will not be accepted.
For more information, call Darlene Steele at 740-852-3800, ext. 214, or Ohio Computer Recycling at 614-856-3204. The collection is sponsored by the North Central Ohio Solid Waste District and Madison and Union Counties Recycling and Litter Prevention.
