We all know that there are hazardous materials in household electronics—such as old tube TVs, entertainment systems, and computers—that make them hard to dispose of. But there are other hazards, especially with charged or recently charged products, that can pose immediate dangers to yourself, your family, and your home. Today, we’ll go over the hazards of electronics, both the active hazards and the passive ones that require dedicated electronics disposal.
Electrical Hazards with Electronics
Most times when electronics are powered down and unplugged, they don’t pose an active hazard to homeowners. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Two standout pieces of electronics that most people have had in their home at one time or another are also two of the most dangerous.
The Dangers of CRT (Tube) Televisions
While CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors are fine when properly packed in storage, special care should be taken when moving them. They pose a risk of electrocution as they include a high-voltage capacitor that can hold a charge long after being unplugged. The average color TV has 27,000 volts when fully charged, which is well over the lethal level. They also pose a risk of explosion as the tube of the TV is under vacuum, and a break in the tube, which is fragile at the “neck” behind the screen, causes an implosion followed by an explosion of glass.
Lithium Batteries: Swelling and Fire Risks
All cell phones made in the last decade have lithium batteries under the hood, which can pose two specific risks. If the battery has defects or is damaged, including wear from repeated recharging, it can thermally runaway and start household fires. If you see bumps or swelling on the cell phone case, your battery may also be swelling due to the formation of gas when recharging, also known as outgassing. Discontinue use immediately if either of these events occurs, and remember: you can’t throw away these batteries due to the nature of lithium batteries.
Hazardous Materials in eWaste
Besides the lithium mentioned above, these types of electronics also contain passive hazards—namely, heavy metals.
- Lead: This heavy metal can be found in many old electronics and batteries, especially older models. If you have a CRT monitor, it contains anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds of lead per unit!
- Mercury: A liquid heavy metal, mercury can be found in electronics, both in monitors and in mercury switches, found in color TVs and advanced electronics like computers.
- Cadmium: A heavy metal found in rechargeable batteries, contacts, and switches, including those in entertainment systems.
Options for Disposing of Hazardous Electronics
Due to the above-mentioned hazardous materials, at-home disposal isn’t an option for many electronics. For phones, many carriers will offer trade-in options, ranging from full replacement with a new phone to in-store credit or free disposal. For TVs and other working electronics, you may find donation options in your area. For final disposal, you’ll need to wait for an eWaste disposal event hosted by your local township or city. For more information on disposal for electronics, especially old electronics, see our blog, Dealing with Old Electronics: How NEDT Manages eWaste.
If those are not options or you’re looking for an easier solution, we can help. NEDT’s Household Hazardous Products Collection Centers can help by providing quick and safe service for all your needs, including a home pickup service if you don’t want to move any hazardous electronics or other products yourself! Contact us today to learn more, including everything we accept. You can also call us at 866-769-1621.
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