How to Trash, Donate, or Sell an Old Television

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Put your old TV to good use or throw it out safely

Co-authored by Kathryn Kellogg and Eric McClure

Last Updated: March 11, 2024 Fact Checked

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Recycling

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Donating or Selling

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Transportation

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Expert Q&A

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Warnings

Old television sets usually can't be left by the curb with your normal trash for pickup, but you still have plenty of simple disposal options. TVs can be recycled quite easily, and if you're interesting in selling, you might be surprised to learn how much older TVs are worth! In this article, we’ll break down all of your options when it comes to tossing, selling, or donating your TV. We’ll also cover how to transport it, since that’s likely going to come up in the near future.

Things You Should Know

Call your waste department for pickup info or look for TV recycling near you if you don’t want to sell it or give it away.
If you want to sell your TV on Craigslist or Facebook, know that old bulky TVs have appreciated in value while newer flatscreens don’t fetch much these days.
You cannot throw an old TV in the trash; the electrical components require special handling.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Recycling Your TV

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1
Call your waste disposal company to find a recycling site. Most states have laws preventing you from leaving TVs and other electronics outside for trash pickup, because electronics can contain hazardous materials.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist

Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.} Some individual companies also have rules against this type of disposal. However, most waste companies give paying customers the option of dropping off old TVs at a site for recycling.^{[2]
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Consumer Reports
Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing

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- If your city picks up your recycling, call your waste department or check their website. They’ll either pick the TV up or tell you where you can drop it off.
- Most waste disposal companies have a special area dedicated to recycling cameras, small appliances, cell phones, CD players, photocopiers, and other electronics.
2
Look for an e-waste recycling program in your area. Many cities and towns have pick-up or offer drop-off options for electronics and other large items. They may give you one day a month to take your TV to a specific spot in town. Some cities may even pick up your old (extremely heavy) TVs from your home.^{[3]
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- Go to your town or county's website to learn more. There may be a recycling center in your town that specifically deals with electronic waste where you can drop off your TV.
- Be sure the recycling program you choose is E-Steward certified. That way, you can be confident that they're qualified to handle the hazardous waste that can be found in television sets.^{[4]
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  Kathryn Kellogg
  Sustainability Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 28 June 2019.}
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3
Call your closest Best Buy to get rid of your old TV. In the United States, Best Buy will pick up and recycle old TVs. It’s free if you drop it off, but they’ll also come to you and you they’ll ensure the TV gets recycled responsibly for a small fee.^{[5]
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- You can also call a general junk company if you prefer. Best Buy has a proven track record of recycling TVs properly, though.
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Return the used television to the manufacturer. Some manufacturers will accept your old television set and recycle it themselves. Contact the manufacturer to see if your TV qualifies for this service. You may even get a little money back in return for your old TV!^{[6]
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- Usually, you'll need to find the nearest drop-off site by looking online or talking to a representative on the phone. Be sure to follow the company's guidelines for proper recycling.
- Remember that in addition to the TV, you'll want to recycle your receiver.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Donating or Selling Your TV

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1
Sell an old bulky TV online locally for good money. If you’ve got an old cathode-ray TV (aka a CRT TV) with a big, heavy backside, it’s worth good money if it works. Newer TVs don’t have the input ports (or proper image quality) for retro gaming systems, so old school gaming enthusiasts will buy your ancient TV in heartbeat. List the item on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and the offers will roll in.^{[7]
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- If your TV is in good condition and you have the remote, you can easily get $200-300 for it.
- There are actually a ton of used flat screen TVs on the market and TVs are one of the few products out there that get cheaper every year, so flat screens don’t tend to resale for very much.^{[8]
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Your easiest option is to hand off your old TV to someone you know. They'll likely help you move it or pick it up themselves, and they'll be excited to have a TV to enjoy for years to come.^{[9]
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3
Donate the television to a nonprofit agency. If the TV still works well but nobody you know wants it, just donate it! Someone else will surely appreciate it, and it's actually better for the environment to reuse electronics for as long as they last than to recycle them.^{[10]
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- Check with local community centers, schools, homeless shelters, churches, and nursing homes to see if any of these spots could use the TV. They could also have programs for delivering TVs to families in need of one.
- National agencies such as Salvation Army and Goodwill have programs for taking in and re-selling old electronics and TVs.
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Sell a damaged or inexpensive TV online or to a retailer. A lot of big retailers, including Amazon, BestBuy, and Target, will buy back TVs and other electronics if you’re buying a new one. Look on the stores' websites to see if your TV qualifies for buyback. You can also sell your TV yourself by listing it on Facebook Marketplace or advertising it on eBay or selling it on Craigslist.^{[11]
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- Facebook Marketplace is a popular, user-friendly choice with the option to pick-up. Shipping the TV once you've sold it on eBay could be pretty difficult, while Craigslist customers almost always pick up their own purchases.
- You can always sell the TV in a garage sale if you want to clean out your house. If you're already having a big garage sale, put your TV out on your lawn! Especially if your TV is older, set the price low. Remember, the goal is to get rid of it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Transporting Your TV Safely

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1
Enlist some friends to get some extra muscle. Offer a few friends some pizza or money in return for helping you move your old TV. The extra hands will help a lot if the TV is heavy. Once the job is done, you can relax in front of your new TV!^{[12]
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- If you’ve got a small 24–36 in (61–91 cm) TV that doesn’t weight very much, feel free to carry it on your own.
Don't stand more than 1 foot (0.30 m) from the old TV. Keep your legs shoulder-width apart. This is a nice strong stance that'll help you stay balanced as you lift the heavy item.^{[13]
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Never bend over from the waist to lift heavy items. Squat down, keeping your back straight. This way you can lift with your legs and avoid straining your back muscles.^{[14]
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Lift up one side of the TV at a time. Slip your fingers safely under the lifted sides. If you're working in a team, communicate with one another to avoid accidentally dropping the TV.^{[15]
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Straighten your legs to lift the TV. All the weight should be on your legs. If you feel a strain in your back, put the TV back down and reposition yourself. Once you've got it, either walk the TV to the truck or move it to a wheeled dolly.^{[16]
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- Put a thick blanket or furniture pad over the screen when you’re transporting the TV to protect it from scratches.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What should I know about recycling a TV?

Kathryn Kellogg
Sustainability Specialist
Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. Kathryn is the author of two books focusing on sustainability, 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and 101 Tips for a Zero Waste Kitchen. She is the spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic, has been featured by the Guardian, CNN, Refinery29, and Bustle, and has a following on instagram of over 700k.

Kathryn Kellogg

Sustainability Specialist

Expert Answer

Look for a company that's E-Stewards certified. That way, you don't have to worry about the illegal trade or the social and environmental hazards of e-waste dumping.

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What not to put in a dumpster?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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There are various things you should not put in a dumpster, including: Hazardous waste, paints and solvents, pesticides, fuel such as oil and gas, tires or car batteries, all batteries, anything that can be recycled and light bulbs. It is also important to check with your dumpster company for any other things that are not permitted. For example, some dumpsters permit electronics and appliances while others cannot accept them due to local regulations on e-waste. Garden and yard waste depends on the company and local laws.

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How much is 1 800 GOT JUNK?

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Realizing that prices change and depend on load type and size, in general, it will cost anywhere between $150 and $600. Check the company's website or call their customer service for confirmation; have an estimate of the size of what you want them to take away before calling, to assist with an accurate estimation.

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Warnings

Still wondering if you can you throw a TV in the trash? Unfortunately, this isn’t a great idea. There are potentially toxic electrical components in your TV that aren’t good for the environment.^{[17]
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