Where To Dispose of Monitors?

Enablers Tech
Nov 10
6 min read

What if trashing your old monitor actually paid you? Your old computer monitor doesn’t belong in the trash; it can provide you with many benefits if you choose a better ending for it. Not only does it protect you from environmental hazards, but also provides you with economic benefits. Whether you choose to sell it, donate it, or recycle it, all come with their own benefits.

Atlanta E-Waste Solutions makes this process hassle-free, transparent, and more beneficial for you with its strategies tailored to businesses, individuals, or enterprises. So deciding where to dispose of monitors safely and responsibly becomes easy with Atlanta Ewaste Solutions.

Types Of Monitors

Before you plan where to dispose of old monitors responsibly, you should know the types of monitors, as different recycling facilities accept specific types of monitors, as their complexity and internal components differ from each other, and each requires special handling. Mainly, these are classified into two main types.

● CRT Monitors

Cathode ray tube monitors are bulky and old-fashioned monitors. They contain lead glass and phosphorous coatings that make them difficult to handle or recycle. Only the certified CRT monitor handling facilities handle them carefully.

Because of their complex composition and the large amount of hazardous elements (lead, mercury, phosphorus, or cadmium), they should not be thrown in the trash. When they end up in landfills, they can cause serious environmental problems, leading to health risks.

● Flat Panel Monitors (LEDs, or LCDs)

Flat-panel monitors such as LEDs or LCDs are more common these days. They also contain toxic elements, but in far lesser amounts than CRT monitors. They contain mercury in backlights and different heavy metals in other parts of the monitor, such as circuit boards, etc.

If you scale these types in terms of toxic elements, then it will be CRT, LCD, and then LED, containing very few toxic elements and being ideal for recycling and donation. Choose LED monitors for eco-friendly impact and responsible recycling.

Why Monitors Demand Special Handling: The Hidden Threats

You might consider monitors as harmless equipment, but when they end up in landfills, they are far more dangerous than they appear, releasing toxic elements and polluting the environment badly.

Toxic components in computer monitors:

The following are the potential hazardous elements found in different parts of monitors.

Lead: A highly toxic substance found in CRT glass monitors
Mercury: Found in backlights of LCDs and is a highly hazardous substance. Contaminate water and affect the wildlife badly.
Cadmium: Found mostly in older display panels and chips, and is very dangerous to the kidneys and severely affects bones.
Beryllium and arsenic (trace elements): Trace elements are used in circuit boards, and when they are landfilled, they pollute the air badly.
Brominated FRs: They are also found in circuit boards and are hazardous.
Plastics: Plastic casing in monitors releases toxic fumes if burned and needs special handling.

Due to these toxic elements and other factors, the following are the aftereffects of trashing the old monitors.

By releasing toxic gases into the air, they cause air pollution, resulting in many respiratory diseases in people.
When these toxic substances get into the groundwater and pollute it, they can cause serious health risks to vulnerable communities dependent on tap water.
Irresponsible disposal of monitors causes illegal dumping in different areas, resulting in insect accumulation and soil contamination.
Throwing the CRT monitors in the trash is against the law, and it can result in a significant fine for improper disposal.

Step-By-Step Procedure for Safe Disposal of a Monitor—Sell → Donate → Recycle

Responsible disposal comes in 3 different steps, depending on the condition of your monitor and your preferences. But before choosing any type of disposal technique, prepare your device responsibly.

How to Prepare Your Old Monitor for Safe Disposal?

Here are the simple steps you should follow before disposing of an old monitor.

Unplug the monitor
Remove all the cables and peripherals
Take photos of the monitor if you are going to list it on online platforms for selling.
Note down the serial number and model number. It will be helpful for listings.
In the case of smart monitors, back up all data and wipe it clean to prevent data leakage.
Label monitors as "fragile" when you ship them or drop them off to prevent damage during transportation.

Then the next step is to choose where to dispose of old monitors carefully. Whether you want to donate it, sell it, or recycle it, Atlanta Ewaste Solutions helps you with tailored solutions and gives you a hassle-free experience.

If you have a broken monitor, then before trying to dispose of it, consider repairing it and making use of it. You can use them for other reasons. Otherwise, if you want convenience for yourself, then choose the following options.

Sell it:

When your monitor is fully functional, has no physical damage, and is a recent enough model that it is acceptable in society. It should not be a very old model because people prefer to buy the newer models instead of older ones.

To sell it, you can choose online platforms like Facebook Marketplace or others, where you list the monitors at your desired price, and you can get orders. Sometimes this can be faster, but sometimes it is time-consuming and hectic to deal with several interested buyers.

On the contrary, you can choose Atlanta Ewaste Solutions, where you don't have to deal with several people for negotiating the price. At our facility, your old monitor is delivered either through drop-off or pick-up services, and when it reaches our facility, our professional tech team analyzes it carefully and gives you a reasonable price depending on the condition and model.

You can also take it to the manufacturer for take-back programs, and in return, you’ll get credits or a price deduction on the new device you buy from them.

Donate it:

If your old monitor is in working condition but its price is not worth selling, or you simply want to give it away for charity, donation is the best option for your old monitor.

You can personally donate it to the nearby orphanages, schools, or colleges. You can also donate it to needy relatives who need it the most.

Otherwise, Atlanta Ewaste Solutions can help you give your old monitor a second life. Our support team not only distributes it to several needy organizations but also refurbishes it before donating. If your old monitor has some functional issues, then contact us; we’ll make it new hassle-free and give you and the new owner satisfaction.

For the effective donation, attach accessories like power cables or adaptors and ask for a donation receipt. Atlanta Ewaste Solutions provides you with receipts that qualify for tax deduction. So you are not only giving it but also receiving profit in advance in the form of tax savings and community impact.

Recycle it:

For your non-functional and old monitors, recycling is the best option. Recycling makes sure that your unwanted old monitors don't cause harm to the environment and maximum valuable materials are recovered from them for reuse.

Atlanta E-Waste Solutions offers secure monitor recycling with a zero-landfill policy and maximum material recovery. Recycling through Atlanta Ewaste Solutions becomes easy and more beneficial. Other than CRT monitors, we accept all PCs or monitors of all brands and in any condition.

Explore our tailored services for individuals and large enterprises/businesses.

Residential and Business Recycling Solutions:

For Businesses, Office, Or Property Managers:

As large businesses have to handle a large volume of e-waste, including monitors, laptops, cell phones, and computers, at the same time, they have to ensure that their personal or confidential information is safe and their old assets are recycled properly. Here are the business-specific strategies we provide.

IT Asset Disposition Services with full-chain tracking
On-site and off-site data destruction with certifications (through both software and physical destruction)
No landfill guarantee with maximum material recovery
Asset recovery by offering competitive prices based on the material recovery.
Reporting and documentation throughout the process

For Individuals (Homes or Apartments):

Still thinking about where to recycle old monitors when their quantity is minimal?

Individuals handle a few old assets or monitors that are filling up their space, and they want to get rid of them responsibly. If you are among them, Atlanta E-Waste Solutions can help you get rid of it without any hassle.

We accept even small quantities of monitors and provide convenient drop-off or pickup services. We also provide certificates of data destruction and responsible recycling, whether it is one monitor or thousands. We’ll make sure that your old screen doesn’t end up in landfills and is responsibly recycled.