The tech industry is an ever-evolving space, with innovations and creations that can leave you questioning the credibility of your old electronic devices. Computers, phones, and TVs produced last year that use LCD screens have now been outvoted by the newer grade of LCD and better device models.
Considering how often you can get new electronic devices, being responsible and smart about your recycling methods is very important. What technology can improve your waste disposal? What happens when you want to get rid of your old electronic equipment? And why is it important to recycle your waste? It would be best if you answered these questions in your quest to dispose of your LCDs.
What is LCD Recycling?
LCD recycling is the process by which raw materials are collected from LCD screens, monitors, and panels and made into new products. LCDs are flat panel display that uses liquid crystals to operate. The proper mode of waste disposal of LCDs is recycling because of the huge amounts of toxic materials they contain. Most LCDs made before 2009 used cold cathode fluorescent lamps for backlighting, while those made after 2009 used Light Emitting Diode (LED). Pre-2009 LCDs are especially dangerous because they are hazardous to incinerate and dispose of.
Recycling LCDs is the only way to prevent the harmful impact of improper LCD waste disposal. Most times, LCD screens sit in landfills because they must be disposed of in a certain way. Although many states have an electronic recycling law that might prevent waste disposal at landfills, when landfills cannot dispose of these screens, they either leave them to rot or ship them to places without the prohibiting laws.
Recycling Your Old Tv
There comes a time when you must say goodbye to your old television. Whether you’re disposing of a defective one or upgrading to a bigger, flatter screen, your old TV will need to go. While there are different ways to dispose of your old TV, recycling is best.
The first thing you need to check before recycling your TV is the type. Your TV can be an HDTV, which is more recent and uses energy-efficient LED, LCD, or Plasma tech. It could also be a CRT or Cathode Ray Tube, which is bulkier and uses an internal fluorescent tube.
Cathode Ray Tubes(CRTs) are more dangerous and difficult to recycle than HDTVs. This is because CRTs contain many toxic chemicals, such as Cadmium-based phosphorus and lead. To recycle most CRTs, you’ll have to separate the dangerous chemicals safely and then reuse the glass panels present in the TV to make new TV sets.
Does An LCD Monitor Need To Be Recycled?
Yes, LCD monitors need to be recycled. The rate at which individuals replace their television sets, computers, and smartphones yearly means there’s an avalanche of discarded electronic waste each year. The impact of improper electronic waste disposal on humans and the environment is too huge to ignore.
LCD monitors are one of the most dangerous electronic devices to discard. They contain toxic metals such as lead that can harm humans and the environment.
When electronic waste like LCD monitors is not recycled properly, it can negatively affect the air, soil, and water, which can, in turn, cause extreme harm to human health.
What Can You Do With Old LCD Monitors
You can do several things with your old LCD monitors once they are no longer useful. Some people prefer to store them in a designated store, and others throw them out. Refrain from throwing out your old LCD monitors since they are hazardous to the environment.
You might be wondering if it matters what you do with your old LCD monitor. The answer is yes. Electronic equipment with LCD screens has toxic materials that can harm you and the environment if disposed of inappropriately.
The first thing you can do with your old LCD monitor is to resell it. This is the best alternative if you want to avoid the disposal of your old monitor. The benefit of selling your old LCD is your sales profit. Another thing you can do with your old LCD monitor is to recycle it. Recycling your LCD is the best option for electronic waste disposal.
Lastly, you can donate your monitor. This option brings little profit, but it might be better than discarding the product carelessly. If you don’t want to dispose of the monitor, donating is the last resort after trying to sell it.
Are Monitors Worth Scrapping?
While your computers and other electronic devices contain harmful heavy metals, they also have valuable metals like copper and aluminum. These metals might not fetch a good price in small amounts, but you should expect to make some profit if you have bulk numbers of CRT monitors.
The profit is one of many reasons why monitors are worth scrapping. It also helps to keep electronic waste out of landfills.
Is LCD Hazardous Waste?
Hazardous waste is any waste that contains substances that can cause potential hazards to the environment or humans. Liquid Crystal Display has quickly replaced Cathode Ray Tubes as the main display device used in recent years. Due to this, several billion LCDs have been produced worldwide to meet the increasing demand for LCDs. As households use and dispose of LCDs, the amount of electronic waste from LCDs has been increasing at an alarming rate.
The LCD panel contains indium, liquid crystal, and other heavy metals. Much research has reported on the harm these materials can cause, which has made many countries determine that waste from LCD panels is hazardous.
Why Is Having The Newest Recycling Robot Important For Your Recycling Facility?
E-waste contains many harmful and precious materials that must be separated when recycling begins. Sorting these materials could expose workers to harmful chemicals and adversely affect their health. This is why having the newest recycling robot in your facility will be advisable.
The use of recycling robots in separating and collecting electronic waste can vastly increase waste processing speed. It can also increase the speed of component materials reuse while reducing its harmful effects on your workers.
Conclusion
Recycling your LCDs is as important as recycling your paper and plastic, if not more. The amount of electronic waste appearing in the waste stream currently lying around in the world is alarming, and the sheer amount of environmental and health hazards caused by improper electronic waste disposal is concerning.
Therefore, it is crucial to employ tactics to ensure the proper disposal of this waste stream to prevent harm to humans and the environment.
