CATHODE RAY TUBE (CRT) MATERIALS

What is a cathode ray tube?

Cathode Ray Tube Material or "CRT Material" includes any or all of the following:

• Cathode Ray Tube ("CRT") - A CRT is a vacuum tube or picture tube used to convert an electrical signal into a visual image. A CRT becomes a waste when the owner discarded it or it is physically cracked, broken, or shattered.
• Cathode Ray Tube Device ("CRT Device") - A CRT Device is any electronic device that contains one or more CRTs including, but not limited to, computer monitors, televisions, cash registers and oscilloscopes. A CRT device becomes a waste when the owner discarded it or it is physically cracked, broken, or shattered.
• Cathode Ray Tube Glass ("CRT Glass") - CRT Glass means any glass released, derived or otherwise generated from the treatment or breakage of one or more CRTs.

How much lead is in a CRT?

A typical CRT contains between two to five pounds of lead in the thick glass picture screen. This lead serves to shield the viewer from radiation. Most CRTs exceed the regulatory threshold for lead and are identified as hazardous waste when discarded. Lead is toxic and can be especially harmful to young children. If products containing lead are disposed of to the trash, the lead can potentially contaminate the soil and our water supplies. Disposing of CRT Materials in the regular trash is prohibited.

What about Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)?

In addition to CRT Devices, Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are increasingly being used in video displays, desktop monitors, laptop computer screens, and televisions. Plasma televisions are also gaining in popularity. Like CRTs, LCD and plasma monitors and screens contain toxic metals and should not be disposed of in the regular trash.

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How do I know what a CRT is?

CRTs are the familiar a vacuum tubes or picture tubes used to convert an electrical signal into a visual image televisions and computer monitors for many years. All CRTs are considered to be a hazardous waste when discarded.

Liquid crystal displays (LCD) and plasma screens are commonly referred to "flat screens". LCDs are increasingly being used in video displays, desktop monitors, laptop computer screens, and televisions. Plasma televisions are also gaining in popularity. Like CRTs, LCD and plasma monitors and screens contain toxic metals and should not be disposed of in the regular trash.

What is a CED?

All consumer products containing CRTs, LCD or plasma video display screens four inches or larger (measured diagonally) are referred to as Covered Electronic Devices or CEDs (except for LCD and plasma projection televisions). Beginning on January 1, 2005, California consumers began paying a fee ranging from $6 to $10 at the time of purchase of certain video display devices. The fees are deposited into a special account to be paid to authorized CED collectors and recyclers to cover their costs of managing these devices when they are discarded.

Beginning January 1, 2007, California will ban the sale of most CEDs containing Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, or Hexavalent Chromium above specified levels.

What alternatives are available?

A New Opportunity for Waste Prevention, Reuse, and Recycling, published by the U.S. EPA, provides ideas for reducing, reusing and recycling Universal Waste Electronic Devices.

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How do I recycle or dispose of these materials?

Hazardous waste regulations usually draw a distinction between household and non-household generators, with different requirements for each group. The CRT regulations base requirements solely upon the quantity of CRT materials generated onsite per year, and whether CRTs are accepted from offsite sources.
The lowest level of regulation is for generators (including households) of five or fewer CRTs per calendar year. These generators are termed Electronic Product Generators (EPGs). An EPG is required to:

• Not dispose of CRT materials in the regular trash;
• Store CRTs and CRT devices in a manner that prevents breakage;
• Not disassemble or break CRTs;
• Contain CRT glass resulting from broken CRTs; and
• Properly recycle CRT materials at an authorized collector or household hazardous waste facility.

View the requirements for other categories of generators and handlers of CRT materials.

Are CRT Materials accepted at the County's Household Hazardous Waste facility?

CRT Materials are not accepted at the Permanent Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Locations of authorized collectors providing free recycling of Covered Electronic Devices (except for LCD and plasma projection televisions) are available at www.erecycle.org/search.asp, Tulare County's Corporate Yard and E-Recycling Solutions. CRT Materials are also accepted at selected mobile household hazardous waste collection events in partnership with CSET's E-Recycling Solutions.

Generators that exceed the EPG or CESQUWG thresholds must send their universal wastes to other universal waste handlers or destination facilities in accordance with the following requirements (22 CCR 66273.18 or 66273.38, as appropriate):

• Comply with applicable Department Of Transportation requirements for labeling, marking, placarding, and shipping papers; and
• Follow requirements for rejected shipments.

A list of businesses specializing in universal waste recycling services may be found at www.almr.org/membersprintable.pdf.

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