Dispose Computer or Television

Dispose Of Old Computer Or Television

Cathode ray tubes, commonly called "picture tubes", are found in computer monitors, televisions, and other electronic devices. The average cathode ray tube, or "CRT", contains up to 8 pounds of lead. When a CRT is disposed in a landfill, it is broken during compaction of the landfill and the lead becomes leachable. This means that the lead can be transported through the landfill by water or other moisture in the trash. Leached lead poses a threat to groundwater and to human health and the environment.

Because of its leachable characteristic, lead is classified by the US EPA as a hazardous material. As such, it cannot be disposed in landfills. To address this issue, Ada County started a program to manage CRTs in an appropriate manner. As of May 13, 2002, disposal of a CRT in the landfill is prohibited in Ada County. Image of Old Computer Monitor

Residents and businesses can take their old televisions and computer monitors to the Ada County Household Hazardous Material Collection Facility located at Ada County's landfill free of charge. Residents may also take their old televisions and computer monitors to one of the Haz Waste Collection Sites (see link below). However, due to size and weight constraints of the collection vehicles, please, no console televisions or televisions larger than 27-inch at the collection sites.

For more information on disposing of old televisions, computer monitors or other electronics, please contact the Household Hazardous Materials Collection Facility at (208) 577-4736.

Haz Waste Collection Sites

This link takes you to a .pdf file detailing the locations

and dates of the collection sites.