How to give your old TV a second life

If you just got a new TV, you’re probably wondering what to do with your old one. Maybe you’re in a rush to get rid of that dusty, bulky, outdated model before the guests arrive. But before you throw them away, consider a more environmentally friendly option.

For example, most cities prefer you Recycle your old electronics. Simply taking your old TV to a landfill is wasteful. Depending on the age of the TV, it may contain toxic metals such as mercury. What should you do instead? There are a lot of options, especially if they are still working. The most obvious is to move it to another room, but I’ll assume you’ve thought about that already, especially if you have one New TV To replace him.

Fortunately, many options for getting rid of an old TV don’t cost you anything, except a little of your time. Here’s what to do. For more, check out Your old phone can be reused and turned into a wireless mouse Or a Security camera.

Before doing anything else, clear the data

No matter what you plan to do with your TV, make sure it does Log out of all your streaming accounts. Then go one step further and Do a factory resetwhich you can find buried in the user menu. Obviously you have someone Download your Netflix for free This is only a problem if your TV is old smart tv, But deleting your passwords and personal information is… A good habit to deal with any of your old electronic devices.

Try selling on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace (if it’s worth anything)

While selling a TV may seem as straightforward as moving it to another room, the details are less clear.

First of all, you need a local TV. No matter how well your TV is packaged, even if you have the original box, it probably won’t survive the trip. Modern TVs are very fragile. Now the seller has to deal with a broken TV and you have to return the buyer’s money.

Even if you sell it locally, the same problem applies. Inevitably, a buyer will show up to get what you want 65 inch TV In a 1990 Honda Civic and I’m asking you to help put it in the back. If you want to get rid of a large TV, be sure to specify its dimensions and weight in the ad.

Read more: 5 Reasons You Should Use Facebook Marketplace Instead of Craigslist

That is if you can sell it. Used TVs depreciate rapidly, partly because new TVs are becoming cheaper and cheaper. That TV you spent $2,000 on? Maybe you can get $200. Check out “Is Your TV Worth Anything?” Section at the bottom.

Instead, just list it for free. If a person chooses it, it’s a win-win.

Donate your TV to charity

The easiest option is to donate it to a local charity, and ideally volunteers will come pick it up.

There’s also Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers, or another used goods retailer. You’ll need to bring your TV to one of their locations. Check their website to see if they will accept your type and size of TV. For example, they probably won’t take something old Rear projection TV Because most people don’t want them.

Also contact your local library or public schools. Many are always in need of donations, even though a 20-year-old TV may not be what they are looking for.

Give your TV (again) to Best Buy

Best buy will take Your used electronics, not just TVs, but old phones, tablets, batteries and even cables. Again, you’ll need to bring the TV to your nearest Best Buy, but since it doesn’t matter if it’s still working, the amount of care required is greatly reduced. You’ll also get Best Buy points, which you can combine with $5 toward a $5 candy bar at checkout.

Larger TVs will incur a $25 fee, which seems reasonable considering it takes such a bulky thing off your hands.

If you’re buying a new TV and installing it, it’s $60 He will pull out the old one. If you haven’t purchased a new TV from Best Buy, He will come to your house and pick it up for $200.

Professionally recycle your TV

Some cities and local jurisdictions offer recycling of TVs, either by dropping them off at a recycling center or as part of regular curbside pickup. Contact your local government for details.

There are a number of organizations that will help recycle your electronic devices, including televisions. verify EPA page for more information. MRM Recycling also has a page To help you determine options in your area.

A number of manufacturers have their own programs, or collaborate with companies that do so. verify Electronics Recovery Alliance Page for more information. Keep in mind that just because a manufacturer has a program, it doesn’t mean there will be a delivery location near you. For example, LG’s closest delivery point to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, is more than 500 miles away.

If you are now thinking about all the small electronics in your home that you can recycle, take a look at our site A guide to recycling phones, laptops, batteries and cameras for free.

Sidewalk or garage sale

Depending on where you live, you can let your neighbors handle it. I hesitate to even mention this, because if you live in an area where people take things on the sidewalk, you probably know about it. And if you don’t know, it’s not a good idea to leave trash on the curb for days or weeks. So your mileage may vary on this.

A yard or garage sale is another option. Again, easier than pulling it yourself.

Is your TV actually worth anything?

Most people remember how much they paid for a TV and assume it’s still worth something years after they bought it. This is not true. TVs have become very cheap, and there is no longer a big market for used TVs, especially if the TV is not very expensive.

Although there are some exceptions, here are some general rules:

It might be worth something if:

• It’s a cutting-edge TV from the last five years or so
• It’s an OLED TV, except perhaps for the first models
• Its size is greater than 65 inches
• It is a CRT (in very specific situations, see below)

It’s probably not worth much if:

• It was a budget, or even mid-range LCD
• She is over 10 years old
• It’s a plasma
• It’s an early smart TV (unless streaming apps still work)
• It is an old tube television (CRT).

It’s definitely not worth anything if:

• It is a rear projection TV
• It’s CRT RPTV (listen to this tip: lift with your knees, not your back)
• It does not have HDMI

Now, there are exceptions to these rules. You may be able to find an assembly tool for your 500 pound RCA console TV. Perhaps an archaeologist is doing a project on early flat-screen televisions and finds your Fujitsu to be a prime candidate for his thesis.

TVs with early on HDMI versions such as 1.4 It’s not useless, but it has fewer uses. They may not play well with conversation Streaming devices or Game controllers.

There is a specific situation where a CRT could be worth something. Hardcore retro gamers Prefer early video game consoles to CRTsAnd it’s getting harder to find for obvious reasons. However, they’re not looking for just any CRT, and if you have one of those huge ones from any era, it can be more of a hassle than just getting it out of your house. And forget about charging one.

If the CRT contains a component (Red, green and blue, plus two for sound), or even S video Input, this is promising. If it does not have at least one compound (Yellow, plus red and white for sound), it probably won’t sell for a significant amount.

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In addition to covering television and other presenting techniques, Jeff conducts photography tours Amazing museums and sites around the worldincluded Nuclear submarines, Huge aircraft carriers, Medieval castles,epic 10,000 miles of road tripsAnd more. Payment Technical trips For all his tours and adventures.

A. wrote Best-selling science fiction novel About city-sized submarines, along with a sequel. You can follow his adventures on Instagram And to him YouTube channel.