Televisions

A flat screen tv set out for trash
An example of a CRT television

About These Items

  • DON’T put televisions out for curbside pick-up
  • DO drop them off (or schedule a pick-up) with a service that properly recycles them (see below)
  • DO expect to pay some money to get rid of your old tv – there is only one known free options in Pittsburgh for recycling televisions (even though it’s required by state law- see below!)

You can not put televisions (of any sort) out for curbside pick-up, either trash OR recycling. The state actually forbids televisions from being placed in landfills or incinerated– they must be recycled so that the various chemicals used inside them do not poison our environment. State law also calls for manufacturers to provide free recycling channels for these products, but for various reasons the reality actually is that very few places in Pennsylvania provide free recycling and no known free recycling options for televisions are available to residents of Pittsburgh.

Instead, to get rid of your old television, you’ll likely need to pay to use one of the locally available drop-off and pick-up options (see below)

Places that Accept Televisions (most for a fee)

  • FREE: Westmoreland Cleanways Recycling Center: This recycling center is an hour outside Pittsburgh and offers recycling options for a number of hard-to-recycle items. They accept intact televisions at no charge. Smashed or disassembled TVs are accepted at a cost of $25/unit. They have limited hours and you can only drop off when they are open so check their website first.
  • Evolution E-cycling: This company operates a location at 2235 Mary St. in the south side where they accept tvs for recycling. The price (as of Spring 2019) is $1/lb. Call 412.390.3450 to schedule a drop-off.
  • PRC: The Pennsylvania Resource Council accepts tvs at their Hard-to-Recycle collection events and their weekly e-waste collection events for City of Pittsburgh residents The typical price is $30-$40 per tv.
  • Best Buy: If you are purchasing a new TV from Best Buy, you can have your old tv picked up for $20 when your new tv is delivered.
  • 1-800-Got-Junk: (1.800.468.5865) This is the company that Best Buy will direct you to if you ask about recycling a tv without making a new purchase. They will send two licensed and insured workers to your house to pick up your TV. Their quoted flat rate (as of Spring 2019) is $129 (although, if you decline due to costs, they may try to offer you a reduced rate – YMMV).

Do you know another service that accepts televisions? Let us know!

Covered Device Recycling Act of 2010 (Act 108)

This is the state law that was passed to keep tvs out of landfills. While it seems to have successfully prevented tvs from being lumped together with other landfill-bound trash, it has not resulted in free, easy-to-access recycling channels for tvs. The Pennsylvania Resource Council (PRC) has some more covered of Act 108 if you’re interested in this issue:

Was this post helpful?

You May Also Be Interested In...