New TV? Recycle the Old One!

On June 12, 2009, all full-power broadcast television stations are required start broadcasting in digital only. This is known as the digital television (DTV) transition.

If you currently use "rabbit ears" or a rooftop antenna for your television, you must take one of the following actions to receive digital broadcasts:

• Connect your television to a digital-to-analog converter box,
• Subscribe to a pay television service such as cable or satellite, or
• Buy a digital television (a television with a built-in digital tuner).

If you buy a new television, be sure to recycle your old one! Electronic products containing a CRT may not be placed in the garbage (Minnesota Statutes §115A.9565). This is because most TVs and computer monitors contain 2 to 8 pounds of toxic lead.

Recycling options for televisions and other household electronics available to Twin Cities metro-area residents include:

• Take-back programs: Some manufacturers and retailers will take back your old electronics for recycling.
• Garbage haulers: Some haulers pick up electronics for recycling.
• Recycling companies: You can drop off your old electronics at a recycler. Some recyclers pick up electronics for recycling.
• Government recycling programs: Your city, county, or neighborhood may pick up electronics, offer drop-off sites, or accept electronics at community clean-up events.

To find electronics recycling options, visit the Electronics page at RethinkRecycling.com, your go-to-guide for waste and recycling in the Twin Cities. For more information on the upcoming DTV transition, visit www.dtv.gov.