How to Dispose of a TV & Electronics in Terre Haute

Electronics do not belong in your household trash. Old televisions — especially the heavy CRT “tube” sets — contain leaded glass, and computers, monitors, and phones hold a mix of metals and materials that are both recoverable and, if landfilled, environmentally harmful. Fortunately, Terre Haute has a straightforward local e-waste path. Here are your options.

Option 1: Vigo County Solid Waste District e-waste recycling

The Vigo County Solid Waste Management District runs electronics recycling for area residents, accepting the usual mix of devices — computers, monitors, televisions, stereos, cell phones, speakers, and radios. Based on the District's own guidance, most electronics are accepted at no cost, while a television carries a small fee (recently listed around $20) because TV glass is expensive to process. The District has run e-waste collection on scheduled days/events, so check its calendar for the next date, hours, and current pricing before you load up. The District can be reached at (812) 231-4451.

Option 2: Retail electronics recycling

National electronics retailers such as Best Buy operate in-store recycling for many devices — cables, small electronics, and some larger items — often free, with occasional fees for certain categories like TVs and monitors. Limits and accepted items change, so check the current program and any per-item caps before you go. This is handy for phones, laptops, and small gadgets you can carry in.

Option 3: Manufacturer and Indiana e-waste programs

Indiana's electronic-waste law places responsibility on manufacturers to provide recycling for covered devices, which is part of why community e-waste collections exist. If you have a specific brand of TV, computer, or printer, the manufacturer may offer a mail-back or drop-off recycling option — check the maker's website for a take-back program.

Option 4: Donate working electronics

If a device still works, donation beats recycling. Goodwill of the Wabash Valley accepts many working electronics, and the Catholic Charities Bethany House Household Exchange can place usable items with local families. A functioning flat-screen TV, a serviceable laptop, or a working printer can do real good in the community instead of being torn down for parts. Wipe your personal data first (see below).

Option 5: Full-service pickup

Have a garage full of dead electronics, an old console TV two people can barely lift, or a small-office tech refresh to clear out? We will pick it all up and route it to the correct e-waste and donation channels. That saves you multiple trips and the strain of moving heavy tube TVs. Because televisions carry their own recycling fee, they can add a little to the price — we will tell you up front. Call or text (812) 803-2110.

Why electronics recycling matters

Beyond being banned from the trash, electronics are worth recycling because of what is inside them. A single device can contain recoverable copper, aluminum, gold, and other metals, alongside materials you do not want leaching into a landfill — lead in old CRT glass, and small amounts of other heavy metals. Recycling recovers the useful materials and keeps the harmful ones contained. Old tube TVs and CRT monitors are the biggest concern: their leaded glass is exactly why they carry a recycling fee and cannot go curbside.

Moving heavy old TVs safely

Those old console and tube televisions are deceptively heavy — a large CRT can weigh 60 to 100 pounds, with all the weight in the glass at the front. If you are moving one yourself, get a second person, lift with your legs, and keep the screen facing your body so it does not tip. Honestly, this is one of the most common reasons people call us for a single item: nobody wants to throw out a back hauling a decades-old TV down a flight of stairs.

Business & bulk electronics

Offices, schools, and shops upgrading their technology often end up with a storage room full of dead monitors, towers, printers, and phones. Rather than making a dozen trips to a collection event, a single pickup can clear the whole lot and route it to certified e-waste recycling. If your business is doing a tech refresh anywhere in the Wabash Valley, we can handle the removal and, where you need it, help you keep a simple record of what was recycled.

Protect your data first

Before any computer, phone, tablet, or smart TV leaves your hands — whether donated, recycled, or hauled — remove your personal information:

• Back up anything you want to keep.
• Sign out of accounts and de-link the device (important for phones, tablets, and streaming-enabled TVs).
• Factory-reset the device, and for computers wipe or physically remove the hard drive.

Reputable recyclers handle data responsibly, but the surest protection is to clear the device yourself.

Quick reference

Item	Best path
Working flat-screen TV or laptop	Donate (Goodwill, Bethany House)
Old CRT/tube TV	Vigo County e-waste (small TV fee)
Computers, monitors, printers	County e-waste or retailer recycling
Phones, tablets, cables, small gadgets	Retailer recycling or county e-waste
A whole load of electronics	Full-service pickup

Sources & further reading

• Vigo County Solid Waste District — Electronic Recycling
• Vigo County Solid Waste District — FAQ / disposal guidance
• Goodwill of the Wabash Valley
• Catholic Charities Terre Haute — Bethany House Household Exchange

Local facility names, programs, and rules above were last verified August 2026. Fees, hours, and event dates change — call the facility to confirm current details before you haul.