TV Recycling Near Me: Every Free and Paid Option [2026]

Free TV recycling exists but comes with trade-offs — limited availability, size restrictions, or working-condition requirements.

• •City e-waste collection events accept all TVs including old CRTs at no cost. Most cities hold these 1–4 times per year. Check your city's solid waste or public works website for the next scheduled date.

• •E-Cycle programs in Washington, Oregon, Connecticut, and several other states offer year-round free TV recycling at designated drop-off sites. Washington's E-Cycle program covers all TVs, computers, and monitors statewide.

• •Goodwill and Salvation Army accept working flat-screen TVs as donations. Most locations no longer accept CRT TVs or broken sets. You'll get a tax-deduction receipt for working donations.

• •Dell Reconnect partners with Goodwill to recycle Dell-branded electronics at no cost, though this doesn't cover most TVs.

The catch with free options: you need a vehicle large enough to transport the TV, and availability is often limited to specific dates or working-only sets.

Best Buy operates the largest retail electronics recycling program in the country, but their TV policy has specific limits.

• •Fee: $29.99 per TV in most states. Free in California, Connecticut, and Hawaii due to state e-waste laws.

• •Size limit: Flat-panel TVs up to 50 inches. TVs over 50 inches are not accepted for drop-off recycling.

• •CRT TVs: Accepted in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan for the $29.99 fee. Not accepted in most other states.

• •Daily limit: 2 TVs per household per day.

• •Condition: Broken, cracked, or non-working TVs are accepted — they're recycling them, not reselling.

Best Buy has recycled over 2 billion pounds of electronics since launching their program. For TVs under 50 inches that you can transport yourself, it's one of the most reliable year-round options.

TV recycling costs depend on the TV type, size, and method you choose. CRT (tube) TVs cost more to recycle than flat panels because they contain 4–8 pounds of lead that requires specialized processing.

• •Flat-panel TVs (LCD, LED, OLED): $0–30 at most recycling centers. Many accept them free because the materials have recovery value.

• •CRT TVs (tube TVs): $15–45 at certified recyclers. Typical pricing is $1.00–$1.50 per diagonal inch. A 32-inch CRT costs roughly $32–48 to recycle.

• •Pickup services: $79–$148+ depending on the company. Dropcurb charges $79 for same-day curbside pickup of any TV. LoadUp starts at $82 for scheduled pickup. 1-800-GOT-JUNK charges $148+ based on reported customer experiences.

If your TV is too large to fit in your car or you don't want to deal with hauling a heavy set, curbside pickup eliminates the transportation problem entirely.

The best disposal method depends on your TV's condition, type, and how much effort you want to invest.

• •Working flat-screen TV: Donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or list on Facebook Marketplace. You'll keep it out of the waste stream and may get a tax deduction.

• •Broken flat-screen TV: Drop off at Best Buy ($29.99) or a certified e-waste recycler ($5–15). If you can't transport it, book a curbside pickup.

• •CRT (tube) TV: These are the hardest to recycle. Most charities won't accept them, and Best Buy limits CRT acceptance to a few states. Your best options are city e-waste events (free, limited dates) or a certified recycler ($30–45).

• •Large TV (65\"+ or projection): Too big for most drop-off programs and too heavy to move alone. Curbside pickup services like Dropcurb handle any size TV from the curb for $79.

Never put a TV in the regular trash. Over 25 states ban electronics from landfills, with fines ranging from $25 to over $1,000 in states like California.

Walmart does not have an in-store TV recycling program. Unlike Best Buy, Walmart stores do not accept old TVs or monitors for recycling at their locations.

Walmart does offer a trade-in program through their website for some working electronics, but it's limited to phones, tablets, and gaming consoles — not TVs.

For TV recycling, your closest options are typically Best Buy (flat panels up to 50\"), Staples (monitors up to 32\"), or a local e-waste recycling center. If none of those are convenient, curbside pickup gets the TV recycled without any driving.

More than 25 states have laws prohibiting electronics from entering landfills or regular trash collection. If you live in one of these states, tossing a TV in the garbage can result in fines.

• •Strictest enforcement: California, Illinois, Connecticut, Oregon, New York, Washington, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota

• •Typical fines: $25–$100 for residential violations. California can impose fines over $1,000 for repeat offenses.

• •CRT TVs specifically: Classified as hazardous waste in many jurisdictions due to lead content. Improper disposal of CRTs carries heavier penalties than flat panels.

Even in states without explicit bans, most municipal waste haulers refuse to collect TVs curbside as regular trash. The practical reality: you need a recycling solution regardless of where you live.

CRT (cathode ray tube) TVs are the most difficult and expensive electronics to recycle. Here's why they cost more and have fewer options:

• •Lead content: A single CRT contains 4–8 pounds of lead in the glass funnel. This makes CRTs hazardous waste that requires specialized processing.

• •Weight: A 32-inch CRT TV weighs 80–150 pounds. Moving one requires significant effort and a vehicle with enough cargo space.

• •Declining recyclers: As CRT production ended in 2012, fewer facilities handle them. Processing costs have risen as volume decreases.

• •Typical cost: $30–45 at a certified recycler, or $1.00–$1.50 per diagonal inch. A 27-inch CRT runs about $27–40 to recycle.

If you have a CRT TV that's too heavy to move, curbside pickup avoids the struggle of loading it into a car. Dropcurb haulers handle CRTs of any size from the curb for $79.