You Cannot Put a TV in the Trash in Colorado
Colorado law (SB 12-133) bans televisions and monitors from landfills. Throwing a TV in your trash bin, dumpster, or alley is illegal — flat screens and CRTs contain lead, mercury, and other hazardous materials that contaminate soil and groundwater.
If your waste hauler finds a TV in your bin, they’ll leave it (and possibly charge a contamination fee). Here’s what to do instead.
Free TV Disposal Options in Denver
1. Best Buy (Free — Easiest Option)
Best Buy accepts TVs up to 32 inches for free recycling at any location. No purchase required.
- Drop off at the customer service desk
- TVs over 32 inches: $29.99 recycling fee
- CRT TVs (old tube-style): $29.99 recycling fee regardless of size
- Limit: 3 items per household per day
2. Denver E-Waste Recycling Drop-Off (Free)
Several Denver-area facilities accept TVs for free:
- Blue Star Recyclers — Colorado Springs and Denver metro (nonprofit e-waste recycler, accepts all TVs free)
- Arapahoe County Hazardous Waste Facility — 7600 S. Peoria St, Englewood (free for county residents)
- Denver Household Hazardous Waste Events — Periodic free collection events (check Denver 311 for schedule)
See our full Denver e-waste recycling guide for all locations and accepted items.
3. Manufacturer Take-Back Programs
Some TV manufacturers offer mail-back or drop-off recycling:
- Samsung — Free recycling through partnership with authorized recyclers
- LG — Mail-back program for some products
- Sony — Recycling locator on their website
Check your TV brand’s website for current programs.
Paid TV Disposal Options
4. Junk Removal ($99)
If you don’t want to load a TV in your car (especially large flat screens or heavy CRTs), we pick it up from inside your home.
- Single TV: $99 (minimum load — add other items at no extra cost up to the load limit)
- Multiple TVs or electronics: $99-$149
- Full electronics cleanout: $149-$249
We ensure all TVs go to certified e-waste recyclers — never the landfill.
Call (303) 324-6014 or book online.
5. Staples ($0 for Monitors, Varies for TVs)
Staples accepts computer monitors for free recycling. TV acceptance varies by location — call your nearest Staples first.
CRT TVs: The Heavy Problem
Old tube-style CRT televisions are the most difficult to dispose of:
- Weight: A 32-inch CRT weighs 80-150 lbs
- Hazardous: Contains 4-8 lbs of lead in the glass
- Nobody wants them: Zero resale value, donation centers refuse them, and recycling is expensive
- Recycling cost: $10-$30 per CRT at most e-waste facilities
CRTs are the #1 item people call us about when it comes to electronics. They’re too heavy to carry easily, nobody will take them for free, and they’ve been sitting in the basement since 2012.
Can You Donate an Old TV?
- Working flat screen (less than 10 years old): Goodwill, ARC, and Salvation Army may accept
- Working CRT: Almost no donation center accepts CRTs anymore
- Broken TV (any type): No donation center will accept it — recycling only
If your TV works and is a flat screen, try selling it on Facebook Marketplace first. Working TVs sell for $25-$100 depending on size and brand.
What About the TV Mount and Cables?
- Wall mount bracket: Metal — recyclable. Best Buy accepts it with the TV. Or throw it in your recycling bin.
- HDMI cables, power cords, remotes: Best Buy accepts all cables and accessories for free recycling
- Streaming devices (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV): Best Buy accepts for free
Don’t Let Old TVs Pile Up
The average Denver home has 1-3 old TVs sitting in a closet, garage, or basement. Every time you upgrade, the old one goes into storage "until you figure out what to do with it." That was 5 years ago.
Call (303) 324-6014 or book online. We’ll pick up all your old electronics in one trip — TVs, monitors, computers, printers, cables, the whole pile. Same-day service across the Denver metro.
