The flat panels are just so much better and takes much less space. If you stay in older hotels and motels, the rooms look terrible with the old TVs. As more families upgrade to flat panel televisions, safely recycling their old and bulky TVs become a problem. In 2007, Americans had accumulated 99 million TVs in storage and discarded nearly 27 million TVs. Of the TVs discarded, approximately 18 percent were recycled. Between 2004 and 2007, the number of TVs that entered the waste stream increased by 14 percent.
Old televisions contain lead, copper, steel and aluminum that can be recovered through recycling. Recycling TVs helps to conserve natural resources and energy, and reduce pollution resulting from the extraction and processing of raw materials from the earth.
Before you find a recycling place for your TV, try donating it first. Although the analog TVs are harder to find a donation place, if you call around, some organizations might still take them. Other large retails and manufacturers will take your old TV and offer a small gift card.
Source: EPA