NewsWest 9
MIDLAND--Recycling old TV's and stereos is a major challenge, now that most people are trading up for high technology. Many may be getting ready for the change to digital TV next February, or just replacing their old sets with new plasma and large screen TV's. But for the first time, you won't be able to take them or your old stereos to Recycle Texas.
According to Keep Midland Beautiful Excecutive Director, Doreen Richardson, "There's also an overwhelming amount of TV's going to a landfill right now, because of the misconception that you're going to have to get a new TV in February in order to be able to watch it."
People all over Texas will be in the same boat if you're trying to unload your old TV's.
Richardson explains, "The fact is, is that when you replace your TV with a new one, there's no place in Texas to have it recycled."
Even though you can take your old computers, you may ask, 'what's the difference between PC monitors and televisions?'
"They're different than computers in the sense that there are about 5 different types of computers and many of the parts are interchangable. There's about 2000 different types of TV's and many of the parts aren't interchangeable," Richardson said.
But all hope is not lost. Although they're not many, Richard says you do have option when it comes to ditching your tube, "Take it to a Salvation Army, a Goodwill Industries or Helping Hands, someplace like that. Donate it so it can be re-sold. But that of course is only working TV's."
Many people have more than one or two TV's they want to get rid of. Richardson asks that people just use some common sense, when you do, "Those, sadly, are going into the trash containers. We certainly ask that people don't put 10-12 into a container and fill up a container. But right now, that is the option and it will go to the landfill. "
Keep Midland Beautiful wants to remind everyone that Texas Recycles day starts Saturday, November 15th, at nine in the morning. It is a community wide event and they encourage everyone to come out on Saturday and bring out your recycleables.
