You can repurpose your old flat screen TV for a secondary monitor, make a DIY smart mirror with a Raspberry Pi, donate or sell it if working, or responsibly recycle it as e-waste to prevent hazardous materials from harming the environment, using local council services or specialized e-waste recyclers. Never toss it in regular trash due to toxic components like lead, mercury, and cadmium.
Instead of letting your old TV collect dust or end up in a landfill, you can turn it into something surprisingly useful. With a little creativity, that outdated display can become a digital photo frame, a retro gaming hub, or even a home security monitor.
Yes, many Bunnings stores accept old TVs and other e-waste for recycling, often through designated drop-off bins outside the store, but it can vary by location, so it's best to check with your local store as they handle small to medium electronics, while larger items might need specific council facilities or dedicated recycling centres. Always remove batteries and data before dropping off items like TVs, computers, phones, and small appliances.
Here are some ways to get rid of your old TV:
The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (NTCRS) was established in 2011. It gives Australian households and small businesses free access to industry-funded collection and recycling services. These services are for televisions and computers, including printers, computer parts and peripherals.
Drop Off Your E-Waste: Simply bring your items to our drop-off center at Sunada Recycling. Our team will handle everything from there, ensuring your electronics are recycled safely and responsibly.
TV recycling centers handle flat screens, CRTs, and smart TVs, ensuring proper disposal of toxic components like lead and mercury.
Recycle the Old TV
Just like all the other electronic devices, TV recycling will be a perfect option for you when you have an old and broken smart or flatscreen TV. Depending on the area or location you reside in, throwing away electronics like TVs in regular junk can be illegal.
The streaming apps on your TV may collect data on you, even if you don't ever sign in. And your smart TV will also collect information for its manufacturer, possibly including your location, which apps you open, and more.
Use a permanent collection center or attend a City of LA collection event. Reach out to your local city officials for specialized collection programs or events.
E-waste drop-off
You can recycle laptops, desktop computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, computer accessories, TVs, printers, and scanners – all for free.
Scanners, cell phones, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT), and computers contain appreciable amounts of lead, a hazardous material that should never be disposed of in a landfill.
Simply return your plastic plant pots and stakes to your nearest participating store and, together with our program partners, we'll help recycle them into items such as new pots, creating a circular and more sustainable solution. Customers are also welcome to take returned items home for reuse free of charge.
Donate Your Old TV
Donating your TV helps keep it out of the landfill and supports others in your community. If your tube or OLED TV still works, most local charities will gladly accept it. If your TV is over 10 years old, call ahead to make sure the donation center will take it before dropping it off.
Most sets made after 1950 are not worth much. Consoles, because of their shipping cost and because they take up so much room to display, are worth even less. A typical set from the 50s might sell for $50 or so.
Recycle your TV
Check for television recycling programs and e-waste facilities in your area where you can drop off TVs and other electronics. They may also offer a pickup service. If there isn't an e-waste facility nearby, check neighboring cities and counties and find out if they accept items from non-residents.
Once a hacker has compromised your smart TV, they can spy on you through several built-in technologies that collect data on your viewing habits, conversations, and online activities. Automatic Content Recognition (ACR): This is a common spying method that analyzes audio or video snippets from your content.
Before discarding your old device, a factory reset is essential. This crucial step erases personal information, login details, and viewing history. It's also wise to check for and log out of any additional accounts associated with apps or streaming services. Choosing a responsible recycling option is equally important.
Can you use a smart TV without internet? Yes, if you find yourself without the internet you can still enjoy watching your smart TV.
If the TV is no longer functional or repairable, you can opt to recycle it. Many municipalities organize e-waste collection events periodically, or you can drop the TV at an e-waste recycling facility. These places have the means to safely dispose of or repurpose the components without causing harm to the environment.
On average, most TVs tend to last around 7 to 10 years of frequent usage. Even at its maximum brightness, a TV can easily last for up to 100,000 total hours of use. TVs are built to last. Major manufacturers like Samsung, LG, and Philips, amongst countless others, pride themselves on the quality of their TVs.
Unplugging a modern TV generally will not reset its core settings, such as picture preferences or channel lists, as these are stored in non-volatile memory. However, some older or simpler models might lose the current time or minor temporary settings.
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As we mentioned, TVs can't be recycled like other items due to their potentially hazardous components. So, a special facility should handle these toxic parts. However, there are also amazing parts in the TV that can be recycled and used many times.
Charities: There are a few non-profits or charities that will allow you to donate your old TV—even if it's broken.