The TV Storm is coming....is America Ready?

by Linda McFarland, President/CEO & founder, Classic Computer Recovery Inc.
 

Is this going to be a “Solid Waste Problem” for your community OR an “E-Waste Solution”?

             

 

The FCC has postponed the Digital TV Transition cutoff date to June 12, 2009.  This legislation requires that all antenna-based TVs in the U.S. accept a digital signal by that date for proper reception.

(for more details, visit http://www.dtvtransition.org)
 

 

 

What the Federal Government is doing for the consumer who are antenna-based TV users--estimated at 20% of the population
$1.5 billion has been approved to provide each household two-coupons worth $40.00 each to purchase converter boxes.
These coupons will only be good for 90 days(http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/dtv/)

The coupons will cover about 37.5 million households.
After June 12, 2009, Satellite and Cable companies will be required to re-render the digital signal back to analog until 2012, however, the images received would be reduced significantly in size.
 

Environmental Problem

What is going to happen to all of the TVs that will become obsolete almost overnight?     

Consumers will generally either keep it and reuse it, give it away or sell it, take it to the dump or take it to a recycler.

The reality is most of these millions of TVs will end up in the waste stream of the U.S.     

Toxic chemicals from TV cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and other electronic waste can leach out of landfills and pollute groundwater

There are Pros & Cons of Lead Based Glass Disposal Methods (from CRTs)

Diverting CRTs and other electronic waste from landfills to recycling is an increasingly widespread environmental objective

Only 5 states have legislation banning ewaste from landfills (CA,WA,ME,MA,MN)--what about the landfills in the rest of the  U.S.?

 

The most environmentally responsible thing to do is to take old TVs to a recycler such as CCR either through Municipal Recycling Events or Permanent Drop Off Locations.  Electronics like TVs contain valuable materials that can be used again. Such materials include glass, plastic, copper wiring, and even precious metals.

 

During the first year alone, we estimate that 28 million TVs will enter the solid waste stream because of the DTV switchover (this represents 10% of the total analog TVs currently being used in households today). 

Over the next few years, approximately 1 in 4 households will need to dispose of 1 TV.

 

 

Here are the Top 10 Reasons why we think 1 in 4 HH . . .

There is no existing statistical data that would support this answer, therefore we made an educated guess based on the following facts:

10. The abundance of large city dwellers with TVs

9. Affluent households will likely want new TVs

8. 2001 Census track data – 2.4 TVs per household

7. Special interest groups will promote

6. Hotels and hospitals are likely to switch to new technologies quickly

5. HDTV purchase prices are declining

4. Mass Merchandiser/retailer advertising

3. Media coverage of the digital switchover

2. FREE public announcement campaign

And the number 1 reason . . .

1. TV manufacturers advertising campaign. (Christmas & Super Bowl)

CONCLUSION: 1 in 4 American Households will recycle/dispose 1 TV

CCR specializes in municipal e-waste recovery for residents of Michigan and Illinois.  We offer counties and cities numerous solutions and partner with them to handle consumer e-scrap such as televisions, electronic games, electrical appliances, stereo equipment, etc.
 

Not Enough Permanent Drop Off Sites?   Not Enough Recycling!

There aren’t nearly enough Permanent Drop Off sites for TV and Electronic recycling on a state-by-state basis in the face of the upcoming Analog-to-Digital switchover. Every county should have at least one PDO to assist in managing the volumes of TVs being disposed of over the next few years.

 

Click the thumbnail to see

the information that demonstrates

 the significant shortage of PDO's:

 

Who makes the most $$$ from this FCC Mandate in ranking order?

 


Estimations

 

If 1 in 4 Households recycle ONE Analog TV
 CITY   # of HH   1 in 4HH (25%)   25%*70lbs Total Lbs.   Total Tons   Total Truck Loads (53' Semi)  Total Truck Loads per month     10/08 - 9/09  Total Yd³ as Whole Units
RENO, NV 73,904 18,476 1,293,320.00 646.66 96.23 8 4238
WASHOE COUNTY 132,084 33,021 2,311,470.00 1,155.74 171.98 14 7574
LAS VEGAS, NV 176,750 44,188 3,093,125.00 1,546.56 230.14 19 10135
CLARK COUNTY 512,253 128,063 8,964,427.50 4,482.21 667.00 56 29372
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 71,461 17,865 1,250,567.50 625.28 93.05 8 4097
SALT LAKE COUNTY 295,141 73,785 5,164,967.50 2,582.48 384.30 32 16923
PHOENIX, AZ 465,834 116,459 8,152,095.00 4,076.05 606.55 51 26711
MARICOPA COUNTY 1,132,886 283,222 19,825,505.00 9,912.75 1,475.11 123 64959
TUSCON, AZ 192,891 48,223 3,375,592.50 1,687.80 251.16 21 11060
PIMA COUNTY 332,350 83,088 5,816,125.00 2,908.06 432.75 36 19057
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 183,236 45,809 3,206,630.00 1,603.32 238.59 20 10507
BERNALILLO COUNTY 220,936 55,234 3,866,380.00 1,933.19 287.68 24 12668
DALLAS, TX 451,833 112,958 7,907,077.50 3,953.54 588.32 49 25908
DALLAS COUNTY 807,621 201,905 14,133,367.50 7,066.68 1,051.59 88 46308
HOUSTON, TX 717,945 179,486 12,564,037.50 6,282.02 934.82 78 41167
HARRIS COUNTY 1,205,516 301,379 21,096,530.00 10,548.27 1,569.68 131 69124
DENVER, CO 239,235 59,809 4,186,612.50 2,093.31 311.50 26 13718
DENVER COUNTY 239,235 59,809 4,186,612.50 2,093.31 311.50 26 13718
PORTLAND, OR 223,737 55,934 3,915,397.50 1,957.70 291.32 24 12829
WASHINGTON & CLACKAMAS COUNTIES 297,363 74,341 5,203,852.50 2,601.93 387.19 32 17051
MILWAUKEE, WI 232,188 58,047 4,063,290.00 2,031.65 302.33 25 13314
MILWAUKEE COUNTY 377,729 94,432 6,610,257.50 3,305.13 491.83 41 21659
DETROIT, MI 336,428 84,107 5,887,490.00 2,943.75 438.06 37 19291
WAYNE COUNTY 768 192,110 13,447,700.00 6,723.85 1,000.57 83 44062
CHICAGO, IL 1,061,928 265,482 18,583,740.00 9,291.87 1,382.72 115 60890
COOK COUNTY 1,974,181 492,545 34,548,167.50 17,274.08 2,570.55 214 112969
ATLANTA, GA 167,147 42,037 2,942,572.50 1,471.29 218.94 18 9642
FULTON COUNTY 321,242 80,311 5,621,735.00 2,810.87 418.28 35 18420
BRONX, NY 463,212 115,803 8,106,210.00 4,053.11 603.14 50 26560
BROOKLYN, NY 880,727 220,182 15,412,722.50 7,706.36 1,146.78 96 50500
MANHATTAN, NY 734,644 183,661 12,856,270.00 6,428.14 956.57 80 42124
QUEENS, NY 782,664 195,666 13,696,620.00 6,848.31 1,019.09 85 44878
STATEN ISLAND, NY 156,341 39,085 2,735,967.50 1,367.98 203.57 17 8964
COLUMBIA, SC 42,245 10,561 739,287.50 369.64 55.01 5 2422
RICHLAND COUNTY 120,101 30,025 2,101,767.50 1,050.88 156.37 13 6886
PHILADELPHIA, PA 590,071 147,518 10,326,242.50 5,163.12 768.32 64 33834
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY 590,071 147,518 10,326,242.50 5,163.12 768.32 64 33834
 MIAMI, FL  134,198 33,550 2,348,465.00 1,174.23 174.74 15 7695
 MIAMI-DADE COUNTY  776,774 194,194 13,593,545.00 6,796.77 1,011.42 84 44540
 RALEIGH, NC  112,608 28,152 1,970,640.00 985.32 146.63 12 6457
 WAKE COUNTY  242,040 60,510 4,235,700.00 2,117.85 315.16 26 13878
 NEWARK, NJ  91,382 22,846 1,599,185.00 799.59 118.99 10 5240
 ESSEX COUNTY  283,736 70,934 4,965,380.00 2,482.69 369.45 31 16269
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