WITS Will Recycle Your Old TV Sets Back into the Community

Where do old television sets go to die? Back in the day, electronics lasted a lot longer than they do today. It wasn't that they were built all that much better, but rather it was because they were fixable. And most models stayed the same year after year. There wasn't this bigger and better mentality that there is today. Or perhaps in the case of electronics, I should say smaller and better.

People almost developed a sentimental attachment to their appliances back then. My grandparents had an old black and white Motorola TV set for at least twenty years and a Westinghouse refrigerator for over 30. When the TV set finally went out, all you had to do was trip down to the local 7-Eleven or Walgreen's and buy a new tube. The stores had a tube testing machine that told you whether it was good or not. Then it was just a matter of taking the old tube out and putting the new one in.

When the television set or radio finally did become unrepairable, (usually because the picture tube or speaker went out), you had three options: You could either put it down in the basement and use it as a piece of furniture, or store it up in the attic. Most of the TV sets were made out of real wood and had a dual purpose anyway, doubling as a stereo or cabinet. Or, if you were from the south side of St. Louis, you simply put the new set on top of the old one and used it as a TV stand.

My parents had a television graveyard up in the attic. One corner of the attic always had three or four dusty old sets in it. Sometimes the smaller sets and tube-type radios were just thrown in the trash. We kid's were always warned to stay away from them, not because they contained toxic materials, but rather because the picture tube might explode. Sometimes my father would deliberately break the tube just so it wouldn't be accidentally broken by the kids.

Today, the disposal of old electronics including TV sets, cell phones, radios, and computers has become a big environmental issue. Third world countries like Nigeria have become the new bone yard for old electronics, where they are dumped into landfills, leak out toxic materials like lead and mercury and pollute the land.

And finding a place that will dispose of your old equipment isn't easy anymore either. And how do you make sure that it won't end up in Nigeria? Well, there's an organization called WITS that will take your old electronics and put them back into use in the community, or if they can't be repaired they will dispose of them appropriately. They will have a pick up point at this year's Earth Day celebration in Forest Park. For a list of further locations go to www.thehealthyplanet.com/april09_use.htm

Source: The Healthy Planet Magazine, www.thehealthyplanet.com/april09_use.htm