Electronics Recycling · Austin, TX
TV Recycling in Austin
Before you go
Five minutes here decides whether you pay a fee and whether they take it at all.
Work out whether it's a CRT or a flat panel
A CRT is deep, heavy for its size, and has a thick glass front. It holds several pounds of lead bound into the funnel glass, which costs more to process than the recovered material is worth. That is the category most likely to carry a fee, and the fee depends on your state. Flat panels are usually cheaper or free.
Measure the screen corner to corner
Screen size decides whether a store will take it at all, not what it costs. Retail take-back is commonly capped around 50 inches, and a larger set is refused at the counter rather than quoted a higher price. Where a fee applies it is usually flat per item, and a few states set it to nothing.
Take the stand off
Stands and wall brackets are steel and plastic that get handled as scrap. Some sites won't accept a set still bolted to a mount, and it's a two-minute job with a screwdriver.
Bring the power cable and the remote
Both are accepted alongside the set. Left at home they're just drawer clutter you'll deal with again later.
Don't let the screen break
A cracked CRT is a hazardous-waste problem rather than a recycling one. Some facilities refuse a broken tube outright and others charge more for it. Lay it face-down on a blanket for the drive.
Compare options
TV Recycling in Austin
2 free · 2 fee-based
| Facility | Cost | Open now | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwill Central Texas - Dell Reconnect E-Waste | Free |
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| STS Electronic Recycling Inc.(512) 340-7393 | Free |
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| Paid or fee-based options | |||
| Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center(512) 974-4343 | Depends on the item |
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| Best Buy (Arboretum)(512) 795-0956 | Fee for this |
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Where they are
Relative positions across Austin. Not a street map: use Directions on a facility page to navigate.
Free Fee or conditional 1 more listing is not plotted, 1 because it covers a whole metro rather than one address.
How it works in Austin
Best Buy charges $25 per TV (limit 3 items/household/day). Staples does NOT accept TVs. Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center (2514 Business Center Dr) accepts TVs free for Austin/Travis County residents by appointment. Under the Texas Recycles TVs Program (30 TAC Ch. 328 Subch. J), the manufacturer of your TV is required to offer a free takeback — TCEQ maintains an alphabetical brand directory linking to each manufacturer's program.
Local rules
- Texas Recycles Computers Program (30 TAC Ch. 328, Subch. I): TCEQ requires computer manufacturers selling in Texas to offer free recycling of their own brand-labeled computer equipment to households.
- Texas Recycles TVs Program (30 TAC Ch. 328, Subch. J): TV manufacturers must register with TCEQ, file a recovery plan, and recycle a market-share allocation of CTE (covered television equipment) in Texas.
Travis County household hazardous waste
Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-Off Center
Central HHW hub for Austin & Travis County. Appointment required, released weekly. Free for residents.
13 more Austin rules, not specific to this item
- Texas does NOT have a paint stewardship law — PaintCare does not operate in Texas (as of 2026).
- Austin Universal Recycling Ordinance (URO): commercial properties, multifamily, and food-permitted businesses must provide recycling/organics access; annual diversion plans due Oct 1-Feb 1; violations are Class C misdemeanors up to $2,000/day.
- Austin Construction & Demolition Recycling Ordinance (2015): projects over 5,000 sq ft must reuse/recycle 50% of debris or dispose <2.5 lbs/sq ft.
- Austin City Code Ch. 15-6 (Solid Waste Services Administrative Rules) governs HHW handling and prohibits placing batteries and HHW in curbside recycling/trash carts.
- Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center is appointment-only — slots can be hard to get and are scheduled via the Austin Recycles mobile app or by calling 3-1-1.
- Austin's on-demand HHW curbside service is brand-new (January 2025), replacing the prior bulk/brush twice-a-year schedule with up to 3 service appointments per year per address.
- HHW curbside set-out rule: items must be staged OUT of direct sunlight (garage or porch) — the city explicitly warns about Austin heat causing reactions; NOT placed at the curb until collection morning.
- Austin Resource Recovery warns that batteries in curbside recycling carts have started truck/MRF fires in summer heat — the city actively campaigns to keep lithium-ion out of carts.
- City of Austin's Recycle & Reuse Center accepts HHW from Travis County residents free (Austin & county only); fees apply to non-residents and businesses cannot use the residential HHW service.
- Zero Waste by 2040: Austin City Council adopted 90% landfill diversion goal in 2011; 2023 Comprehensive Plan added 'aggressive milestones.'
- PaintCare absence: unlike Colorado, California, or Oregon, Texas residents cannot drop paint at hardware stores under PaintCare — all paint must go through municipal HHW.
- Large batteries (car, solar panel, EV) are explicitly excluded from APL library drop-off boxes — they require Recycle & Reuse Center appointment or manufacturer programs.
- Solar panel disposal fee schedule: first 2 panels under 100 lbs are free at the Recycle & Reuse Center, then $0.30/lb.
Other Austin programs
- Austin Resource Recovery On-Demand HHW Curbside CollectionCurbside pickup of paint, batteries, automotive fluids, aerosols, pool chemicals, pesticides, fluorescent bulbs, propane cylinders. Launched January 2025 as on-demand service. Up to 3 collections per address per year. 30-gallon total limit, no individual containers >5 gallons.3-1-1 (512-974-2000)
- Austin ReBlendFree 100% post-consumer recycled latex paint (low-VOC) made from HHW drop-offs. Available in three shades (Texas Limestone, Balcones Canyonland, Barton Creek Greenbelt) for residents, nonprofits, and businesses by appointment at the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center.512-974-4343
- Austin Public Library Battery Drop-Off NetworkHousehold battery collection at 20+ APL branches (look for 5-gallon black/gray buckets); does NOT accept large car or solar panel batteries.3-1-1
- Dell Reconnect via Goodwill Central TexasFree recycling of any-brand computer equipment (laptops, desktops, monitors, peripherals) at participating Goodwill Central Texas donation centers.
- Travis County 1431 Citizens Collection Center (Cedar Park)General household trash only ($4.33/cubic yard, Thu-Sat 8am-3:50pm); HHW for county residents is routed to the City of Austin Recycle & Reuse Center.
- Call2Recycle drop-off network (Austin)Rechargeable and single-use batteries (under 11 lb) at Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, Staples and other retail locations citywide; terminals must be taped or bagged before drop-off.
- Travis County recycling locatorSearchable database of drop-off sites for paint, electronics, batteries, and other materials across Travis County.
Where this came from: 12 sources
- www.austintexas.gov/dropoff (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/resource-recovery/locations/recycle-and-reuse-drop-center (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/resource-recovery/programs/demand-bulk-brush-and-household-hazardous-waste-collection (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/batteries (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/reblend (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/uro (opens in a new tab)
- www.austintexas.gov/zerowaste (opens in a new tab)
- www.traviscountytx.gov/tnr/environmental-quality/conserve/disposal-recycling (opens in a new tab)
- www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/recycle/electronics (opens in a new tab)
- www.paintcare.org/paintcare-states (opens in a new tab)
- www.goodwillcentraltexas.org/about-us/dell-reconnect (opens in a new tab)
- locations.call2recycle.org (opens in a new tab)
Common questions
About TV Recycling here
How much does TV recycling cost in this area?
2 of 4 facilities (50%) offer free recycling for TV. Facilities that may charge: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center, Best Buy (Arboretum). Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center: Free for residents. Fees for tires, mattresses, large appliances.. Best Buy (Arboretum): Free for most items. $29.99 fee for TVs over 50" and large monitors..
Do I need an appointment for TV drop-off?
1 facility requires an appointment: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center. Best Buy (Arboretum), Goodwill Central Texas - Dell Reconnect E-Waste, STS Electronic Recycling Inc. accept walk-ins.
Is pickup available for TV?
Most facilities require you to drop off TV. Check individual listings for special arrangements.
Are there certified recyclers for TV?
Yes. Local facilities hold certifications including: R2, NAID. These ensure responsible processing and, for NAID, verified data destruction.
Are there quantity limits for TV drop-off?
Some facilities have limits: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center: Residential quantities only Residential quantities; Best Buy (Arboretum): 3 items per day.
How much does TV recycling cost?
Flat-screen TVs under 50" are often free at municipal HHW facilities. Best Buy charges $30 for TVs under 50 inches. CRT TVs and larger flat-screens may have higher fees ($10-$50 depending on size).
Can I recycle a broken TV?
Yes — broken TVs are accepted but usually have a recycling fee because they require manual dismantling and hazardous material handling. CRT TVs (the heavy old ones) cannot be repaired and must be recycled.