Tech Reviews & Gadgets

How to give your old TV a new lease of life

If you just bought a new TV, you may be wondering what to do with your old one. Maybe you’re eager to get rid of that dusty, bulky, outdated model before your guests come over. But before you throw it away, consider a greener option.

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For example, most cities prefer you Recycle your old electronics. Just lugging your old TV to the dump is a waste. Depending on the age of your TV, it may contain toxic metals like mercury. What should you do? There are plenty of options, especially if it’s still available. The most obvious way is to move it to another room, but I’m assuming you already have that room in mind, especially if you have one new tv to replace it.

Fortunately, there are many ways to get rid of your old TV that won’t cost you anything, except maybe a little time. Here’s how to do it. For more information, see if Your old phone can be transformed into a wireless mouse or a security camera.

Before doing anything else, clear your data

No matter how you plan to use your TV, make sure Sign out of all your streaming accounts. then go further Restore factory settingswhich you can find in the user menu. There is obviously someone Download your Netflix for free Only if your old TV is Smart TV, But erasing your passwords and personal information is Develop a good habit of using old electronics.

Try selling on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace (if valuable)

While selling your TV may seem as obvious as moving it to another room, the specifics are less obvious.

First, you need local reception for your TV. No matter how well you package your TV, it may not survive the trip even if you have the original box. Modern television is too fragile. Now, the seller has to deal with the broken TV, and you have to refund the buyer’s money.

Even if you sell locally, the same problem exists. Buyers will inevitably show up to get your product 65-inch TV Take a 1990 Honda Civic and ask your help to get it in the back. If you’re getting rid of a large TV, be sure to include its dimensions and weight in the ad.

Read more: 5 Reasons Why You Should Use Facebook Marketplace Instead of Craigslist

That is if you can sell it. Used TVs lose value quickly, in part because new TVs are getting cheaper. That TV you bought for $2,000? Maybe you can get $200. Check out the “Is Your TV Worth It?” section at the bottom.

Or, just list for free. If the person accepts it, it’s a win-win for everyone.

Donate your TV to charity

An easier option is to donate it to a local charity, preferably one where volunteers pick it up.

There’s also Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers or other second-hand retailers. You need to take your TV to one of their locations. Check their website to see if they accept your TV type and size. For example, they may not accept old rear projection tv Because most people don’t want them.

Also contact your local library or public school. Many people are always in need of donations, even though a 20-year-old TV may not be what they want.

The local Best Buy is located on the side of the building.

Best Buy will collect old electronics from your home for a fee.

Toby Scott/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

(Return) your TV to Best Buy

Best Buy will take Your used electronics, not just TVs, but old phones, tablets, batteries and even cables. Again, you’ll need to take the TV to the nearest Best Buy, but since it doesn’t matter if it still works, the amount of care required drops dramatically. You can even earn Best Buy points that you can combine with $5 to get $5 worth of candy at checkout.

The larger TV will cost $25, which seems reasonable considering it saves you from needing something so big.

If you buy a new TV and have it installed, it only costs $60 to have your old TV shipped away. If you haven’t already purchased a new TV from Best Buy, it will be delivered to your home for $200.

A worker wearing a hard hat disassembles a CRT monitor.

Electronics recycling in action.

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Get your TV professionally recycled

Some cities and local jurisdictions offer TV recycling services, either by dropping them off at a recycling center or as part of regular curbside pickup. Please contact your local government for details.

There are many organizations that can help recycle your electronics, including TVs. Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s page for more information. MRM Recycling also has a page to assist you in finding options in your area.

Many manufacturers have their own programs or partner with companies that do. Check out the Electronics Recycling Alliance page for more information. Remember, just because the manufacturer has a program, doesn’t mean there will be a drop-off location near you. For example, the nearest LG drop-off point in Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, is more than 500 miles away.

If you’re now thinking about recycling all the small electronics you have around the house, check out our Guide to free recycling of mobile phones, laptops, batteries and cameras.

Piles of clothes and trash, with a yard sale sign out front.

You can host a yard sale to get rid of your old TV.

July Nichols/Getty Images

Sidewalk or garage sale

Depending on where you live, you may be able to let your neighbors handle it. I hate to even mention this because if you live in an area where people grab things on the sidewalk, you probably know this. If you didn’t know, leaving trash on the sidewalk for days or weeks isn’t a good look. So your mileage may vary.

A yard or garage sale is another option. Again, this is easier than hauling it away yourself.

Old picture tube CRT television pyramid on flat gray background.

Grassetto/Getty Images

Is your TV really valuable?

Most people remember the price they paid for their TV and think it was still worth the money years after they bought it. This is not true. TVs have become so cheap, there isn’t much of a market for used TVs, especially if the TVs aren’t that expensive.

Although there are some exceptions, here are some general rules:

It may be valuable if:

  • This is a high-end TV launched in the past five years or so
  • This is an OLED TV, except maybe the earliest models
  • Greater than 65 inches
  • It is a CRT (in very special cases, see below)

It may not be worth much if:

  • This is a budget or even mid-range LCD monitor
  • Already more than 10 years old
  • this is a plasma
  • This is early days of smart TV (unless streaming apps still work)
  • This is an old picture tube (CRT) TV

It is absolutely worthless if:

  • This is a rear projection TV
  • This is a CRT RPTV (note this advice: lift with your knees, not your back)
  • It doesn’t have HDMI

Now, there are exceptions to these rules. You may be able to find a collector for your 500 pound RCA console TV. Maybe an archeology student is doing a project on early flat-screen televisions and discovers that your mint Fujitsu is a prime candidate for their thesis.

early television HDMI version such as 1.4 Not useless, but less useful. They may not get along well with modern humans Streaming media device or game console.

Avid gamer in front of CRT TV.

Anyone who’s ever used an Atari controller knows that your fingers can’t make it move.

RyanJLane/Getty Images

In certain situations, a CRT may have some value. Hardcore retro gamers prefer to play early video game consoles on CRTs, and these consoles are becoming increasingly difficult to find for obvious reasons. However, they’re not just looking for any CRT, and if you own one of the larger CRTs from any era, getting it out of your house may cause more trouble. Forgot to ship one.

It would be promising if the CRT had component (red, green, blue, plus two for audio) or even S video inputs. If it didn’t have at least a composite color (yellow, plus red and white for audio), it probably wouldn’t sell for much.


In addition to covering television and other display technologies, Geoff also conducts photographic tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, an epic 10,000-mile road trip, and more. Check out all of Tech Treks’ travels and adventures.

he wrote a Best Selling Science Fiction Novels There are approximately city-sized submarines, and sequel. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and his YouTube channel.



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