Gonna be a big shock for people trying to receive those weak digital signals.
Will be quite a windfall for the satellite companies.
Many people are expected to keep their older analog televisions -- even after the Feb. 17 conversion to an all-digital signal.
Those who opt not to make the transition, however, might contribute a larger than usual number of obsolete television sets to the waste stream.
"I think we'll end up with more televisions than we usually get," said Jenny Hinton, the coordinator of Keep Columbia County Beautiful, which sponsors two annual recycling days dedicated to electronics.
Although analog sets will still work for those with satellite or cable service, or with a converter box, experts predict many consumers will simply buy new ones and discard the old sets.
Columbia County's next recycling day will be March 28, when anyone can drop off unwanted items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the county Government Complex.
There is a $10 cash charge for each television, which offsets the vendor's costs, Ms. Hinton said.
In Augusta, unwanted televisions can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 24 at Fort Discovery. There will be a $10 charge per television set.
Recycling old televisions serves multiple purposes, Ms. Hinton said.
"There are metals, plastic cases and some components that can be recycled," she said, and that reduces the amount that goes to the landfill.
Recycling also helps prevent them from becoming litter.
The Richmond County landfill accepts televisions but has no specific program for them.
"Right now, when people bring them in they just go into the landfill, but we're trying to arrange electronic recycling," said customer service representative Luke Scasny.
There is a $5 charge to dump televisions, he said.
Waste operators, however, aren't bracing for any onslaught of unwanted televisions.
"We're not really worried about a huge influx of TVs coming in," he said. "Most people can get those free or reduced-price converter boxes, and if anybody has a TV worth anything they'll probably continue to use it."
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Gonna be a big shock for people trying to receive those weak digital signals.
Will be quite a windfall for the satellite companies.
i live a loooong way from any tv tower and i receive digital over the air with rabbit ears much stronger and clearer than my cable.
only channel i cannot get is gptv. their problem not mine. scetv has a great signal in my area of ga. in today's economy, people will not buy new tv's if their old set works.
Is this a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. There is no mention of any charge to dump televisions at the Richmond County landfill in today's article about the City expanding the recycle program. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/01/06/met_506671.shtml
so the recyclers charge a $10 surcharge AND get the money from the recycling whatta racket, anything else that gets recycled you get paid to bring it in
That's crazy, People are not going to pay to get rid of their TV's. They are going to end up on empty lots all over the place like those tires and roof shingles.
as a point of clarification - television recycling is free at the augusta landfill. to throw a tv away - put it in the landfill - the charge is $5. sounds like a great incentive to recycle!
If you want to get rid of your television, and not have to pay or actually take it anywhere, you could post it on freecycle. Anyone that isn't familiar with freecycle, it is basically a free group on yahoo that you can join. You post items that you dont want any more, and if someone is interested in it, they will respond to you, and come pick it up. You can also post items that you may need, and if anyone has it they will email you as well. All you have to do is go to yahoo groups, and then type in freecycle, and the county that you live in, and request to join.
Sounds like a cool idea equalityforall...except it's also a good way to have strangers know your address and coming to your home and sometimes that is not a good thing.......................
convert boxes are chea; to rent from the cable folks and most folk are on cable or satellite these days. I don't like the government furnishing converter boxes.
I agree karmakills, that has always been a thought in my mind. Most people that use freecycle, simply leave it on a doorstep or something like that. I think that is so that you aren't inviting them into your home, however it still gives them your address. There are people who agree to meet somewhere also. In this day and time though, you really do have to be extremely careful, you never know who you are dealing with!
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