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How To Recycle Old Home Theater Electronics

Recycling Tips for your Old TV and Other Audio and Video Equipment

By Robert Silva, About.com

Electronics Recycling - One of the concerns by Environmentalists and Consumer Electronics Manufacturers is what to do with the increased number of analog televisions that are being disposed of as the result of the DTV Transition that occurred on June 12, 2009. As a result, there are a growing number of electronics recycling programs being implemented by communities, retailers, and manufacturers.

On the other hand, there are other ways to make use of old or discarded audio and video products that may be piling up in your garage. Check out some useful tips on how you can recycle old home theater equipment.

Make Your Old Home Theater System A Secondary System

Here is a very practical use for your old home theater audio/video gear. Once you have finished your new home theater setup, take your old components and set up a second system in another room. Your old gear might be the perfect fit for bedroom, home office, or family recreation room. Also, if you have an enclosed patio, you might find your gear might work there as well. Also, if you have always wanted to redo your garage, or your basement, as a home entertainment room, recycling your old audio and video gear in such an environment might be a great way to add some fun for the family.

Give Relatives Your Audio and Video Equipment Hand-me-Downs

When I was in high school, I was really into audio and was always on the lookout for anything that might work to add some "class" to my room environment. Needless to say, I had a habit poking around my relatives' garages to see if there was an old amplifier or radio that I could "borrow". If you have a young relative that you know is a "gadget guru" or an aspiring audio or videophile, this may be a great way to find a good home for your old audio and video gear.

Give Away Or Sell Old Audio and Video Equipment To Friends

Do you have friends constantly coming over to enjoy your home theater system? If so, when you upgrade, a close friend might give your old gear a great home, and they may be very appreciative. If you don't want the hassle of putting up your old gear for sale to strangers, why not consider selling, or giving, some of your old audio video equipment a close friend?

Donate Your Old Audio and Video Equipment

Donation is a practical, as well as a socially satisfying way, to give your old audio video equipment a new home. Check with a local school, church, or community organization to see if they could use, or would like, some gear that can provide some fun entertainment. Even consider your old VHS tapes that you might not want anymore if all they are doing is collecting dust. You might also consider donating your gear to an organization, such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill, for resale in their thrift stores. Depending on the value of your donated gear, you might also qualify for a Federal Income Tax Deduction, and these days, any way to lower your taxes is a good thing.

Sell Your Old Home Theater Equipment At A Garage Or Yard Sale

Everybody loves a good deal, and although Garage Sales have a lot of junk, they can also hide some gems. One item that is popular at garage sales is Loudspeakers. If they are not damaged, you may find that you can sell them very easily if you price them right. Before you price your speakers, or other electronics gear, such as an old receiver, for sale, you might want to do a little detective work on the web and see if they are selling and what they might be worth.

For some great tips on how to plan Garage and Yard Sales, check out following articles by other About.com Guides:

Yard Sales (About.com - Flea Markets).

Garage Sales - Turning Junk Into Cash (About.com - Couponing).

Sell Your Old Home Theater Equipment On eBay

This is a very popular method of selling products and many people actually make a lucrative living off selling items on eBAY. Sometimes, what you think might not be worth much, may end up getting some very high bids on eBAY. If you are adventurous, and have a little time, you might try this method of selling your old gear and see what results you get.

The Sony Recycling Program

If you don't want to try the above recycling options, many manufacturers and retailers are providing consumers with recycling opportunities for their old audio and video products. Initially created to deal with the coming disposal of large numbers of analog televisions, Sony is also including other electronics products in its recycling program. For more details, check out the Official Sony Recycle Website.

The Best Buy Recycling Program

Giant CE retailer Best Buy has an active recycling program that also including kitchen appliances. Check out the Official Recycling Website. In addition, Best Buy also sponsors onsite recycling events at their stores.

The U.S. Post Office Recycling Program

This recycling program emphasizes small items, such as Ink Cartridges, Batteries, MP3 Players, and other small electronics-related items. For more details on how this program works, check out The Official Post Office Announcement.

The Office Depot And Staples Recycling Programs

The Office Depot Recycling program provides consumers with a special box to pack your recycling goods in for acceptance at any Office Depot Location. The Staples recycling program emphasizes Cell Phones, Batteries, and Ink Cartridges. Here are the details of the Staples program.

Toshiba Recycling Program

Toshiba joins in on the green revolution with their own consumer electronics recycling program. Toshiba also participates in Best Buy's on-location drop off site recycling events. For more details, check out the Toshiba Recycling Program website.

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