Computer monitors and many other electronics are classified as hazardous waste. Depending on the type, your monitor may contain significant amounts of heavy metals and toxins. Monitors are also made with plastics, metals and other materials that can be easily recycled. Recycling your computer monitor ensures that the dangerous materials are safely disposed of and recyclable materials are reused. Disposal of computer monitors and equipment is regulated by state and federal laws.
Common Monitor Types
Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors are the large, heavy monitors that were common before the introduction of flat-screen technology. Liquid crystal display (LCD) flat-screen monitors are commonly used for PCs and laptops. LCD monitors are typically lit using a fluorescent lamp or light-emitting diodes (LED).
Hazards
CRT monitors may contain lead, cadmium, mercury, and other hazardous materials. CRT monitors have a vacuum tube that can explode violently if broken. The phosphors coating the glass are extremely toxic, and the electronics can deliver a high voltage shock long after the monitor has been disconnected from power. The fluorescent lamps in fluorescent-backlit LCD monitors contain mercury, but the LEDs in LED-backlit LCD monitors do not.
Recyclable Materials
Computer monitors are constructed primarily from materials manufactured from non-renewable resources, such as petroleum-based plastics and metals. Ultimately, all sources of non-renewable raw materials will be depleted. Much of the plastics, metals and other materials that make up the bulk of a computer monitor can be recycled and processed into materials for new products. Precious metals, such as gold, and heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, found in monitor lighting and electronics can often be recycled for reuse.
Impact
Recycling materials made from non-renewable resources reduces the need to find and extract raw materials from the earth. Locating new sources of raw materials is a costly venture. Extracting materials through activities like mining leads negative environmental impact, such as contamination and changes to animal habitats. Computer monitors placed in landfills may leach hazardous materials into the soil and groundwater. Incinerating computer monitors can release hazardous materials into the air. Proper recycling and disposal of computer monitors is not only a smart use of resources, but ensures contaminants do not endanger humans.
Law
As of June 2010, many states have passed electronics recycling laws and established electronics recycling programs. At the federal level, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act dictates the disposal of hazardous waste, which includes computer monitors, particularly CRT monitors. This law is enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Currently, households are exempt from this federal law.
Recommendations
The best option for disposing of unwanted computer monitors is to reuse them. If the monitor is functional, it can be donated, given away or sold. Salvageable monitors can be reconditioned for reuse with minimal investment of resources. Only when a monitor is beyond reuse and repair should it be recycled. Breaking down a monitor, extracting recyclable materials and recycling those materials for reuse in manufacturing requires significant time and resources. There are companies and organizations that specialize in refurbishing and recycling computer monitors and other electronics.
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