If you just got a new TV, you're probably wondering what to do with your old one. Maybe you're in a rush to get rid of that dusty, bulky, outdated model before guests come over. But before you throw it out, consider a more environmentally friendly option.
For instance, most cities prefer you recycle your old electronics. Just hauling your old TV to the dump is wasteful. Depending on how old the TV is, it could contain toxic metals like mercury. What should you do instead? There are plenty of options, especially if it still works. The most obvious is to just move it to another room, but I'll assume you've thought of that one already, especially if you have a new TV to replace it with.
Fortunately, many of the options for getting rid of an old TV don't cost you anything, other than perhaps a little bit of your time. Here's what to do. For more, check out whether your old phone can be repurposed into a wireless mouse or a security camera.
Before doing anything else, wipe the data
No matter what you intend to do with your TV, make sure you log out of all your streaming accounts. Then go one step further and do a factory reset, which you can find buried in the user menu. Obviously having somebody freeload your Netflix is only an issue if your old TV is a smart TV, but wiping your passwords and personal information is a good habit to get into with any of your old electronics.
Try to sell on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace (if it's worth anything)
While selling the TV may seem as obvious as moving it to another room, the specifics are a little less obvious.
First of all, you need local pickup for a TV. No matter how well you pack a TV, even if you have the original box, it's probably not going to survive the trip. Modern TVs are far too fragile. Now the seller has to deal with a broken TV and you have to give the buyer their money back.
Even if you do sell it locally, the same issue applies. Inevitably the buyer is going to show up to get your 65-inch TV in a 1990 Honda Civic and ask you to help stuff it in the back. If you're getting rid of a big TV, be sure to specify its dimensions and weight in the ad.
Read more: 5 Reasons You Should Use Facebook Marketplace Instead of Craigslist
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