TV Recycling in Denver — in the wake of Screen 2 Green
January 5, 2009
After the success of the Screen to Green recycling initiative, I get frequent calls to ask about local television recycling in Denver. I wish I could tell you that there are several more sponsored events to choose from to responsibly recycle your television set, but I’d be lying. Free events are usually a “get what you pay for” type of event, meaning that if they are not sponsored by a large business interest then the recycling processes are almost certainly not up to acceptable standards (as televisions in particular have toxic materials that require special processes, and expenses, to properly recycle so that those toxins are not spread).
A pile of recycled "screens"
GRX (my favorite local e-cycler) charges a flat fee of $5 or less for small electronics, TVs and monitors are between $10 and $20 based on size and consumers can take their televisions straight to their facility — they do local events around town, but the schedule is a bit sporadic. Luminous Recycling also accepts television set for de-manufacturing and responsible recycling for a minimal fee (again, usually between $5 and $20), and their Denver facility is located at:
Luminous Electronic Recycling
11809 E. 51st St.
Denver, CO 80239
Additionally, there are several “take back” programs that are out there – if you have a Sony, LG, Panasonic or (soon) a Sharp television, there are several national partnerships in place whereby the manufacturer pays for the recycling. Sony is the largest participant in this program to date, and they work with Waste Management – you can call 1-877-439-2795 to reach Sony’s take-back program information, and the nearest WM Recycle America eCycling center for Denver is at:
3730 East 48th Street
Denver, CO 80216.
Their phone number is 303-355-2609, if you want to call and check on the fee required if your television is not a Sony (or to get updates on the latest national manufacturers that they will accept free of charge).
Office Supply Stores (i.e. Staples, etc.) also have recycling programs, though they’re a bit spotty as to their level of responsibility. Staples accepts “monitors”, but it doesn’t stipulate if that includes television sets or not – and my bet is “not”, as the cathode ray tube (CRT) is what makes TVs so tough to responsibly handle.
There are additional Denver rallies being talked about for the near future, but there are no large events scheduled at the moment. The next big “green” timeframe for events is around Earth Day in April (though I’m hoping that we’ll see activity around the digital transition scheduled for February, but many of the media companies are avoiding this timeframe). If I hear events or alternatives, I’ll be sure to post it here.
