A former employee of an e-waste drop-off center revealed a baffling policy that prevented them from recovering any value from coveted vintage equipment. 

What's happening?

The Reddit user shared a photo of at least 10 discarded cathode-ray tube TVs in the r/crt subreddit and wrote, "Shame none of this stuff can be taken and saved."

"I worked here years ago and it's always been policy that nothing electronic can be taken once disposed. There were so many cool tvs I would've saved," they shared. 

Another Redditor instantly spotted an old CRT they would have loved to give a second chance to, exclaiming, "I want that beast of Mitsubishi CS-35405!!!"

"I would gut the big TV and rebuild the cabinet with [an] LCD," another tech-savvy person said. 

Why is e-waste management important?

Unfortunately, it is common for electronics to end up in e-waste disposal bins or as unregulated waste at illegal dumping sites. According to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Global E-waste Monitor, poor e-waste recycling practices resulted in $62 billion worth of recoverable natural resources being lost in 2022.

What's more, less than 25% of e-waste has been properly collected and recycled, suggesting that communities worldwide are being exposed to hazardous substances contained in e-waste, like mercury, which is linked to brain and nervous system damage.

Why would an e-waste drop-off site prevent employees from taking items?

E-waste disposal regulations can vary from city to city, but Redditors in the OP's r/crt thread had plenty of theories based on their own experiences. 

One person speculated that the e-waste disposal site was protecting its interests, as customers might be upset if they learned that employees were taking their old electronics for free after they had paid a drop-off fee. 

Another believed it was a liability issue given the toxic substances and fire risk associated with e-waste. A third shared a hopeful tale, noting their e-waste recycler prohibits scavenging because it has a contract with a local business to recoup anything of value from the pile. 

Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to recycle old clothes and electronics? Giving me money back 💰 Letting me trade for new stuff 👕 Making it as easy as possible ⚡ Keeping my stuff out of landfills 🗑️ Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Whatever the reason for this particular drop-off center's policy, one commenter was saddened by the unnecessary waste they perceived at e-waste facilities, saying, "I hate going just because it breaks me seeing so many awesome vintage electronics getting tossed."

What's being done to reduce e-waste more broadly?

UNITAR's 2024 Global E-waste Monitor found that more governments are introducing policies to address the issue. In 2023, 81 countries had e-waste legislation compared to 78 in 2019.  

While e-waste recovery remains a challenge, and more needs to be done, you can also do your part to help keep electronics out of landfills and prevent valuable resources from being wasted.

Some facilities charge drop-off fees depending on the type of equipment, but Recycle Nation can help you determine whether there's a no-cost option near you.  

Meanwhile, major retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, Costco, and Apple offer e-cycling, and your unwanted electronics may even be eligible for store credit. 

Trashie is another company offering consumers a way to declutter with minimal effort. It's Tech Take Back Box, which has a QR code to redeem a free shipping label, can hold up to 10 pounds of electronics, and you'll earn TrashieCash to spend on rewards from popular brands.

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