How to Dispose of an Old TV: Donate, Recycle or Hand It Back
A new screen arrives and the old one ends up in the spare room for a year. Here is what to do with it instead, from donating a working set to finding a proper e-waste drop-off.
· 3 min read
The new television goes on the wall in an afternoon. The old one, somehow, stays in the corner of the spare room for months, because it is heavy, awkward and clearly not something for the kitchen bin. That instinct is right. Televisions contain metals, circuit boards and in some cases hazardous materials, and many states and local councils do not allow them in household rubbish at all.
So what are the options? It depends mostly on whether the set still works.
First, clear your accounts
A smart TV remembers more than it seems: streaming logins, Wi-Fi passwords, voice assistant settings and sometimes payment details on app stores. Before it leaves the house:
- Sign out of every streaming app and the TV's own account.
- Remove it from any phone apps or smart home systems it was linked to.
- Run a factory reset from the settings menu.
- Take out any USB sticks, memory cards or external drives.
Keep the remote, the stand or feet and the power cable with the set. They make it far more useful to the next owner.
Your options, side by side
| Option | Best for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Give to family, friends or neighbours | Working sets | Often the quickest route; a spare-room or garage TV is useful to someone |
| Sell it | Newer, working flat screens | Be honest about faults and arrange collection rather than delivery |
| Donate | Working sets | Call charities and reuse centres first; many no longer accept older or very large TVs |
| Retailer take-back | Any condition | Some shops collect the old set when they deliver a new one, or run drop-off points |
| Manufacturer programme | Any condition | Some brands run recycling schemes for their own products |
| Council e-waste collection | Broken or very old sets | Look for drop-off sites or seasonal collection days on your local authority's pages |
| Certified electronics recycler | Any condition | Ask how they handle the materials and whether there is a fee |
Old tube TVs need extra care
Deep, heavy cathode-ray tube sets are a different animal from flat screens. The glass tube contains lead and the set can be very heavy, so lift it with two people and keep it upright. Do not try to open the back or break the tube, and never take one apart for parts. Some older LCD screens also have fluorescent backlights containing small amounts of mercury, another reason to keep them intact and hand them to a recycler rather than a skip.
Getting it out of the house
- Take it off the wall safely. Unplug everything first, and have a second person hold the screen while the mount is released.
- Carry it on its edge, holding the frame rather than the screen, and do not lay a flat panel face down on anything uneven.
- Wrap the screen in a blanket for the car journey.
- Keep the wall mount and cables if the new TV can use them; spare surge protectors and extension leads can usually go to the same e-waste drop-off when they are worn out. How to tell when a protector has done its job is explained in what a surge protector is and when to replace it.
When the TV is part of a bigger clear-out
Televisions often turn up in bulk when a whole house is being emptied after a move or a bereavement, alongside old radios, computers and kitchen appliances. Set the electronics aside as a separate pile from the start, because they usually go to a different place from furniture and general rubbish. A good overview of sorting a family home room by room is in clearing an older family house, and if the plan includes selling furniture first, read up on how estate sales work. For the general waste that remains, choosing a container of the right size saves paying for space you do not need; just check with the hire company before putting any electronics in it.
The old set does not need to be a problem for another year. Reset it, pick the route that suits its condition, and the spare room is yours again by the weekend.
Small jobs
Little habits that save a cold morning
Five-minute things that pay back all winter.
Tag the shut-off valve
A bright label on the main water valve saves precious minutes if a pipe ever splits.
Keep a torch by the back door
Fetching logs or checking the yard after dark is easier and safer with a light to hand.
Note the box’s model number
When a streaming box misbehaves, the model number takes you to the right help page much faster.
Wipe the pan while it is warm
Cast iron cleans easiest straight after supper, before anything has had time to set hard.
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