HomeAustin, TXElectronics RecyclingCRT Monitor Recycling

Electronics Recycling · Austin, TX

CRT Monitor Recycling in Austin

Before you go

CRTs are the one item where the handling matters as much as the destination.

  1. Confirm it's actually a CRT

    Deep body, thick glass, and much heavier than it looks. A 17-inch CRT monitor runs roughly 30 to 40 pounds, and a Trinitron or other aperture-grille set is heavier again. If it's thin and light, it's an LCD and the rules and fees are different.

  2. Check your state before assuming a fee

    Leaded glass costs more to process than the recovered material is worth, so somebody has to pay. About half the states make manufacturers cover it, and in those CRT drop-off is free to residents. Oregon and Washington both run one. In the rest, expect a fee, and municipal household hazardous waste is usually the cheapest route.

  3. Carry it by the base, never the neck

    The narrow neck at the back of the tube is the fragile part. Snapping it turns a routine drop-off into a hazardous spill, and it can implode.

  4. Leave it whole

    Don't try to separate the glass or open the case. There's stored charge in a CRT even years after it was last plugged in.

  5. Bring the power and video cables

    They're taken with it and they're worthless on their own.

Compare options

CRT Monitor Recycling in Austin

2 free · 2 fee-based

3 of 4 have a single address. Chains listed for the whole metro stay in place.
Facility Cost Open now Notes
Goodwill Central Texas - Dell Reconnect E-Waste Free
donation drop-off		 Store hours (typically Mon-Sat 10 AM - 8 PM, Sun 10 AM - 7 PM) Walk-in R2 Partners with Dell Reconnect program. Diverts over 285 tons of e-waste per month.
STS Electronic Recycling Inc.(512) 340-7393 Free
for many residential items; business/commercial pricing varies		 Mon-Fri 8 AM - 5 PM Walk-in R2 · NAID 100,000+ sq ft facility. Provides hard drive shredding and secure data destruction.
Paid or fee-based options
Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center(512) 974-4343 Depends on the item
Fees for tires, mattresses, large appliances		 By appointment only (Tue-Sat). Schedule via Austin Recycles app or online. Appointment The central HHW hub for Austin metro. Also has a reuse shop (free items) and a Goodwi…
Best Buy (Arboretum)(512) 795-0956 Fee for this
$29.99 fee for TVs over 50" and large monitors		 Store hours (typically 10 AM - 9 PM) Walk-in Best Buy accepts most consumer electronics for free recycling.

Where they are

Relative positions across Austin. Not a street map: use Directions on a facility page to navigate.

5 milesAustin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center, AustinBest Buy (Arboretum), AustinSTS Electronic Recycling Inc., Austin (free)

Free Fee or conditional 1 more listing is not plotted, 1 because it covers a whole metro rather than one address.

  1. Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off CenterAustin
  2. Best Buy (Arboretum)Austin
  3. STS Electronic Recycling Inc.Austin

How it works in Austin

Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center accepts CRTs free for residents by appointment (residential only). Best Buy charges fees for monitors/TVs (CRTs treated as TVs at $25). Most private recyclers in Austin (CyberCrunch, GreenTek, STS) charge per-unit fees (~$10-35 industry standard) for CRTs due to leaded glass handling under TCEQ rules. Texas Recycles TVs Program covers manufacturer takeback of CRT TVs if the brand is still in the TCEQ registry.

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.

(512) 974-4343 Official program page (opens in a new tab)

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

Where this came from: 12 sources

Common questions

About CRT Monitor Recycling here

How much does CRT Monitor recycling cost in this area?

2 of 4 facilities (50%) offer free recycling for CRT Monitor. 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 CRT Monitor 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 CRT Monitor?

Most facilities require you to drop off CRT Monitor. Check individual listings for special arrangements.

Are there certified recyclers for CRT Monitor?

Yes. Local facilities hold certifications including: R2, NAID. These ensure responsible processing and, for NAID, verified data destruction.

Are there quantity limits for CRT Monitor drop-off?

Some facilities have limits: Austin Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center: Residential quantities only Residential quantities; Best Buy (Arboretum): 3 items per day.

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