Whether you just upgraded to a bigger flat screen or you're finally clearing out the CRT that's been a garage anchor for a decade, the disposal rules are the same: a TV is e-waste, not trash. Here's why, and every option you've got.
Why you can't just toss it
TVs contain lead and other heavy metals. Old tube (CRT) and rear-projection sets are the worst offenders — a single CRT can hold several pounds of lead in the glass. That's why they're classed as electronic waste and kept out of regular landfills. Most Palm Beach County trash pickups won't take a TV at the curb, and dumping one on the roadside is illegal dumping with real fines attached.
Your options, easiest to hardest on your back
1. Sell or donate it (if it still works)
A working flat screen has real resale value — list it, or offer it to family. Working sets in decent shape can also go to a charity resale store, but call first: many no longer accept tube TVs or anything over a certain age, because they can't resell them either.
2. County e-waste recycling
The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County accepts electronics, including TVs, at its Home Chemical & Recycling Centers — free for county residents. You'll need to load it, drive it there, and unload it yourself, which is the catch with a heavy tube set.
3. Retailer take-back
Some electronics retailers take small electronics for recycling, and a few offer haul-away when they deliver a new TV. Ask at purchase — but note many won't take large or tube TVs at all.
4. Junk removal / haul-away
If the TV is a heavy old tube or projection set, it's on a top floor, or you've got it bundled with other stuff you're clearing out, haul-away is the no-strain route. A crew carries it out, and we route it to proper e-waste recycling so the lead is handled correctly — you never touch it. Old TVs are a classic add-on to a garage cleanout or any general pickup.
Before it leaves: two quick things
- Smart TV? Sign out of your streaming accounts and do a factory reset — a smart TV stores your logins.
- Wall-mounted? Unmounting a big flat panel is a two-person job; have a hand ready or let the crew handle it so it doesn't get dropped.
The bottom line
If it works, sell or donate it. If it's dead, light, and you don't mind the drive, county e-waste recycling is free. If it's a heavy tube set, wall-mounted, upstairs, or part of a bigger clear-out, haul-away saves your back and guarantees it's recycled right. Either way — it doesn't belong at the curb.
Old TV to get gone? Snap a photo — especially for heavy tube or projection sets — and we'll give you a clear estimate and route it to proper recycling. Get an instant photo estimate or call/text (561) 929-8359.