How Do You Get Rid of a Big Screen TV? (Chicago: 2013, house)

[Jesse69]

I bought a great Sony 55" projection TV back around Dec 1995. In 2000 it broke but Sony opened a repair center for the Chicago Area and they had a repair technician repair it under warranty for free. He also picked up my broken Sony Vaio laptop and Sony checked it out, but said it would cost me $1300 to replace the motherboard. The 1 year warranty expired and I paid $2560 for the laptop and now it was junk... That really hurt! Well, today, 4-13-2013 the Sony 55" Tv finally broke; I paid around $3200 for it brand new from Circuit City, so it probably lasted us a good 17 years.

Here's the big problem, how do you get rid of a broken big screen TV? Do you have to break it apart with a hammer into small pieces [which I saw my neighbor do] and throw it in the garbage, or do you have to call some special garbage collector and pay a fee for disposal? Or maybe I should post a Craigslist ad for free pickup of a broken TV,... you haul it away?

How did you get rid of your big screen TV?

[breeinmo.]

I had one older than yours, and sold it at a yardsale. It went for $50 or $100, cant remember which. It had a beautiful cabinet, so not sure if they wanted to fix it or re-purpose the tv.

[Jesse69]

You mean I can get money for a broken TV? I was thinking of listing it as a FREE Pickup on Craigslists Free section.

I admit, there are some hobbyist that like to repair stuff. I saw an ad that a guy was willing to buy broken LCD monitors, as long as the screen was good.

[rparz]

Put it out in the alley, I was by my house for the holiday and saw an old tube tv that didn't last more than a few hours before some scrappers came by and busted it up and left only the shell.

Maybe they get money from that stuff? Whatever it was, they wanted it.

[Midwest Revival]

You cant throw TV's out anymore, or any electronics for that matter, its a ban on E-Waste. Go to the Illinois EPA website to see where a e waste drop-off site is. I have heard of some places who offer a bit of cash(nothing big) for old TV's...

[rparz]

So, throw next to the cans a few blocks over. That's what everyone seems to do behind my house.

[marothisu]

Don't do it yourself, especially if it's that old. Some things might not be good for you. There's a ton of recyclable parts in there (i.e. scrap). I would search for pick up services that are tied to electronics recycling that will pick it up for you. A big TV from 1995 like that, they will probably love it

[Cinebar]

I agree with those who say to check out your recycling places for ones that take electronics.

Here, the Goodwills take them - not for re-sale, but as a drop-off location for recycling. If you have a Goodwill near you, you might call them (I doubt, though, that they would pick it up).

Or, we can take our electronics directly to the waste management company and they will take them.

[jwaiter]

1-800-GOT-JUNK ... for a fee they'll haul anything from yr home.

[Now What]

Don't even think about smashing it with a hammer, there are toxins in the tube that are bad for you and the environment.

If you can transport it, all Best Buy stores accept e-waste. They will charge you 10 bucks and them give you a 10 dollar gift card on the spot.

Have fun looking for a new tv!! About the most fun thing to shop for....

Best of luck!