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Many people tossing out old analog sets

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BY ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Nov 17, 2008 - 12:08:35 am CST

The deadline when American television switches from analog to digital is several months away, but some people are already tossing out their old Zeniths, Panasonics and RCAs.

“Everyone’s trying to get rid of them right now,” said Matt Weirman, owner of  Secure Recyclers in Lincoln. “We’ve been getting a lot of calls.”

 Weirman’s main business is recycling computers and other  electronic waste, or e-waste.

Story Photo
(Photos.com)
Got an old TV?

Recycling a single television set saves the energy equivalent of 8 gallons of gas and reduces greenhouse gases by 81 pounds, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Here are some options for people buying new digital TVs, or folks who just have old sets they need to get rid of.

* Take old TVs and other electronic waste to Midland Recycling at 440 J St. on Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. The free event is part of Lincoln Recycles Day, sponsored by Lincoln Journal Star Recycling, Midland Recycling, Techware Recycling, Hofeling Enterprises and the community of Emerald. Residents can also drop off glass, plastics, paper, newspaper, cardboard and cans; confidential documents for shredding, and old tires.

Tree trimmings and wooden pallets should be taken to Hofeling Enterprises, 2200 S. Folsom Court.

Note: Each vehicle is limited to four e-waste items.

* Techware Recycling, 1835 W. O St., will pick up or accept old TVs -- $25 fee for those up to 26 inches, $35 for larger sets.

* Visit www.earth911.com to find area e-waste recyclers. Also, check out manufacturer’s Web sites for take-back recycling programs. Panasonic Corp. of North America, Sharp Electronics and Toshiba America Consumer Products recently announced they will expand recycling services.

* Donate it to a charitable organization (but contact them first to see if they will accept an old TV).

* Leave old TVs at the curb for your usual trash service; check first to see if there is an extra charge, particularly for big sets.

Secure Recyclers serves about 300 companies in Nebraska, and Weirman takes televisions to keep them out of the landfill — but it’s something he’s not crazy about doing because old TVs take up a lot of room.

“We’ve seen about a 300 percent increase,” he said. The surge started about three months ago, Weirman said.

That’s about the time the federal government launched its  $40 digital converter box coupon campaign for people who want to keep their old analog TVs.

In Nebraska, nearly 247,000 households get TV signals via roof antennas or rabbit ears, according  to Nielsen Media Research.

But after Feb. 17, the analog signals will go dark, and full-power television stations will begin broadcasting in digital. Some, like local PBS affiliate NET Television, have already started.

Those who have cable TV or satellite service or who bought or plan to buy converter boxes, will be fine. But people who don’t want to mess with converter boxes may want to upgrade to new, HDTV sets.

City Recycling Coordinator Gene Hanlon said people looking to get rid of their old TVs should consider donating them to a charitable organization or take them to e-waste recyclers.

Or, they can leave them on the curb.

Even though television sets have lead, cadmium, mercury, metals, plastics and other harmful materials that could contaminate water and soils, Nebraska’s waste rules allow disposal in landfills, said Hanlon.

“Landfills are designed to protect the environment and the groundwater,” he said. “Technically, it’s OK for them to dispose of them in a landfill.”

Landfills have thick liners and leachate collection systems that keep pollution from seeping into the soil, he said.

Still, neither Hanlon nor Weirman likes the idea of TVs being  buried.

Tom Mulgrue, vice president of Techware Recycling in Lincoln, also encouraged people to recycle, but he said they should be careful their old TVs and other e-waste doesn’t end up overseas.

A recent “60 Minutes” report focused on the trail of toxic e-waste from the U.S. to a town in China where the air and water are extremely polluted and children have high levels of lead in their blood.

Like Weirman’s company, Techware breaks down old electronic components.

Mulgrue said he gets two or three calls a day from people wanting to recycle their old TVs, and he thinks that will pick up as Feb. 17 approaches.

“The TVs are broken down and recycled. ... Nothing ends up in a landfill,” Mulgrue said. “Nothing goes overseas.

“Once something goes overseas you don’t know what will happen to it.”

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.


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mike wrote on November 17, 2008 12:33 am:
" looks like the companies that make tv sets are going to make a killing on us "

 Galen wrote on November 17, 2008 7:27 am:
" I agree. This whole deal is nothing but a money grab. They know that us lazy Americans can't live without TV, so they make a deal where we have to buy new sets, or go cable. We USED to get 8 stations over the analog signal. When we use the digital we get - ready - drum roll please -
ZERO.
Not even 10/11 and PBS which comes in crystal clear over analog. Now more yuppies and kids can have cell phones. They sell this to us under the idea that "it will free up bandwidth for emergency service".
Whoever thought this one up should have stayed under their rock. "

 zero wrote on November 17, 2008 8:00 am:
" my tv get 18 different digital channels including 4 different fox 42's so when you say you get none i think you may want to go buy a digital antenna "

 suggestion wrote on November 17, 2008 8:13 am:
" If you're not getting digital signals check into installing an antenna or upgrading/re-orienting the one you have. We don't subscribe to cable or satellite but get excellent reception of free, over-the-air digital channels since we installed a roof antenna. (We got some good tips on how to set it up from Radio Shack.) It's great, and worth the money spent on the antenna. If you don't care about all the cable channels but just want basic service, you can save those monthly fees.

Since PBS changed over recently there have been some problems--at my location we don't always receive it but I think they must be still working on it. "

 JB wrote on November 17, 2008 9:07 am:
" Give or sell your old TV to someone who has cable or a satellite. If a person doesn't need "HD Reception" it will still work for these people. Kind of like using a "Black & White" TV even thought "Color" was availible. "

 JB wrote on November 17, 2008 9:15 am:
" Analog TV's were based on 1930's technology. Most of the world has had some form "digital" television for over a decade. The date for our conversion was been moved back atleast twice. Still remember that "Digital" and "High Definition" are NOT the same. A converter changes analog to digital, but still you must have a HD TV to get the better picture. Also remember there is NO partial reception like with "analog". Digital reception is "all or nothing". "

 John wrote on November 17, 2008 9:24 am:
" It all depends if you will be satified with "digital converted to analog" or if you want the better picture with "High Definition/HD"? If you still watched "Black & White" TV when "Color" became availible, stick with your old analog TV until it breaks. With a converter or cable you will NOT be getting the "best" picture, but it will be just as good as you have been used to in the past. If you analog TV isn't to old I'm sure someone could use it for a lot more years. "

 Galen wrote on November 17, 2008 9:43 am:
" New antenna, digital booster antenna, amplifier, proffessionally installed - nothing. TV's are about 9-10 years old. Might be good for you city slickes but, us hicks aren't liking it much..... "

 JB wrote on November 17, 2008 9:59 am:
" If it's a Sony, Panasonic, JVC, Mitubishi, Toshiba, etc and not made in the last century keep it. If it's a old Zenith, RCA, Magnovox, or Motorola dump it. If it's to old to have "stereo/MTS" reception junk it. There are a lot people which can and will use non digital tvs. "

 Jay wrote on November 17, 2008 10:00 am:
" I get 18 channels crystal clear. I canceled cable. Maybe do a channel scan because I have had FreeDTV for over 9 months and won't go back to dish or cable. "

 To Galen wrote on November 17, 2008 11:25 am:
" There's a chance your reception will improve after February 17, when the digital channels will (mostly) move from the UHF band back to the VHF band. (By the way, that's another issue: the so-called "digital antennas" are merely repacked UHF antennas and will be far less useful in three months.) In any case, even after the switch back to the VHF band, the digital signal won't travel as far as the analog signal does (due to the all-or-nothing nature of digital and to the reduced wattage of the digital signal). Sadly, your best-case scenario is to hope that translator stations come back into fashion. "

 The Cable Guy wrote on November 17, 2008 1:48 pm:
" Remember, the digital broadcast doesnt start until 2/17 of next year. Is this why you are not receiving anything from a digital converter yet, or what am i missing? "

 luv to camp wrote on November 17, 2008 1:48 pm:
" So here is my question... what about in our camper? when we go camping for more than a few days I like to have the tv available, we have an antenna on the camper, will I need a digital box now? "

 Its Legit wrote on November 17, 2008 1:52 pm:
" This is not really a money grabbing issue. There is serious airwave pollution and clutter on our emergency band radios, (Police, Fire etc), the digital broadcasts will clean up the airwaves for our first responders.

You can get converters for around $50 at Wallmart, best buy, etc...and you can get up to 2 coupons per household for $40 each at www.dtv2009.com....no one needs to buy a new tv for this digital conversion. "

 to camper wrote on November 17, 2008 1:55 pm:
" If your tv is reasonably new and has a digital tuner in it, it will have an ATSC logo on it. You do not need a converter for it...

If it doesn't have the ATSC logo, then you need a converter.

Call 1 888-388-2009 and you can get coupons for up to 2 digital converters. Each coupon is for $40 off. "

 Camper wrote on November 17, 2008 2:30 pm:
" real campers don't watch tv. "

 Linda wrote on November 17, 2008 2:58 pm:
" The old set are great for hooking up video game systems. Old or new, does'nt matter. Don't trash stuff - someone can use it. "

 Ryan wrote on November 17, 2008 5:17 pm:
" To The Cable Guy, the 2/17/2009 date is when the TV stations can no longer broadcast the analog signals. Many stations are already brodcasting the digital signal as they prepare for the transition. "

 Cable Tech..... wrote on November 17, 2008 6:58 pm:
" I have put several Digital Antennas on peoples roofs lately, or in there attics by the way...for those who don't want them on their roofs, but people love them. Its a better picture because its not rebroadcasted through the cable system. The funny thing is, if you have Time warner living in town and have a Digital TV, do a digital channel scan on your set, and you will find that all of those channels are running through there system, and you will get them for free, so if you decide to go with there HD package, your paying extra for the converter, but there free anyways. They basically have the same antennas on their tower outside their building, they just rebroadcast and try to charge you for it anyway. "

 To Luv to camp wrote on November 17, 2008 7:32 pm:
" Nope you don't need a box and really don't need to go to Radio Shack. If you go on You Tube and type in HD antenna. There is a couple of videos that will show you have to build your own. I built mine before seeing them so mine is a little different but with about $25.00 and some tools you can make your own in about and hour or so. I made two one for home and one for camping. I made mine with heavy gage wire and it works awsome. I pick up all the stations that the high dollar ones from Radio Shack gets. "

 mixed feelings wrote on November 17, 2008 9:43 pm:
" digital tv is great in cities, I bought an antenna at radio shack for $80 and got two converters for $20 with the coupons and unhooked my cable. I get 16 channels for free and hope Fox 4/17 and CW51 someday get a digtal signal going to make it 18.I hooked up my parents tv in southeast Ne. and can only get 15,42, and PBS during the day (wow, Sesame Street,Jerry Springer and infomercials). 3,6,7 & 10 come in great at night, unless it's storming which is when they really need those stations. I think the mandatory switch to digital is to force the 247,000 rural residents to switch to a dish so the govt. can collect taxes on broadcast service that they now get for free. "

 JB wrote on November 18, 2008 7:35 am:
" I read where NTV 12 has already gone "digital" but, I currently using a "fraction" of the signal stength it hopes to us in the future. I don't know if the other current digital stations are at the full signal strength yet either. NTV is waiting for approval from the FCC to boost their signal. Stations at similar channels have to make sure they don't interfior with each other's signal. "

 Nina wrote on November 18, 2008 12:03 pm:
" We're hanging onto ours, especially when we see the prices on HD flatscreens. Thank goodness for our dish! "

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