The big switch to digital TV happens tomorrow, June 12th. If you have cable or purchased a converter box, your TV will continue to work. Many people have chosen to buy a new television to ensure they will receive digitally broadcasted TV signals.
A new boom in TV purchases could add to the growing waste caused by discarding old TVs, the Environmental Protection Agency reported this week.
In 2008 alone, Americans disposed of more than 20 million TVs. Along with adding tons of non bio-degradable waste to overflowing landfills, this amount of discarded TVs results in a lost opportunity to recycle other valuable materials. TVs contain natural resources like copper and iron that could be recycled, the EPA pointed out.
To save these resources, the EPA recommended that people who are replacing their TVs should contact their local household hazardous waste collection and recycling program. These services can often recover valuable materials from the circuit boards, metal wiring, leaded glass and plastics.
The EPA also sponsors its own ‘eCycling program’ which promotes recycling obsolete electronic products like televisions, computers and cell phones. Find out more about , and learn about the .
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