What should I do with Old Electronics and their Accessories

debodun · 22 Nov 2018

I have a bunch of CRT TVs, VCRs and VHS tapes, some I came into possession when executing relative's estates. I have tried to give them away on Craig's List, Facebook Marketplace and a garage sale with absolutely no interest. The nearest recycling center wants $25 apiece to take the TVs off my hands which would cost me about $100 to do. They won't even accept the VCRs. I can probably trash the VHS tapes, except if that's illegal. Do they have toxic compounds in them? What would you do with all these things?

RoWin7 · 24 Nov 2018

Different area, I live near a lot of Staples and Best Buy stores, and they take the machines for recycling, old phones too.

Do you have municipal recycling? They don't charge.

Check the web about chemicals in VCR tapes.
chemicals in vcr tapes at DuckDuckGo

Something else: people sell old equipment for parts at Ebay. I've bought parts myself.

Lady Fitzgerald · 24 Nov 2018

Try hocking them at a pawn shop, accepting whatever ridiculous price they offer, then "forget" to make payments.

debodun · 25 Nov 2018

RoWin7 said:

Do you have municipal recycling? They don't charge.

We have a town-wide "clean-up" day twice a year, but it isn't free and they don't accept electronics. In our town, everyone has to hire their own garbage service and pay for it OOP.

RoWin7 · 25 Nov 2018

Foo. Sounds rural. I live in a major metro area.

Do you have a lot of books?although this isn't a major recycle.
6 Ways to Repurpose Old VHS Tapes - wikiHow

Right now your best bet might be selling them for parts on Ebay, but check what their seller's fee is.

(I still have a CRT TV, adapted to to get the digital signal. I don't toss electronics till they die.)

debodun · 25 Nov 2018

RoWin7 said:

Foo. Sounds rural. I live in a major metro area.

It is! I'd have to travel a 50 mile round trip to bring them to an electronics place.

RoWin7 said:

(I still have a CRT TV, adapted to to get the digital signal. I don't toss electronics till they die.)

I still have one too, with a DTA converter, but why keep a half a dozen taking up space?

RoWin7 · 26 Nov 2018

"It is! I'd have to travel a 50 mile round trip to bring them to an electronics place."

And that's the place that charges you $25 apiece? I think the logic behind that is they don't know if they can get anything for them. Try Ebay, advertising for parts. I was on Ebay a few months ago looking for parts to fix my CD player, and often go for used auto or replacement computer parts.

debodun · 26 Nov 2018

I tried to set up an eBay account a few years ago. You need a credit card to do that.