How to Get Rid of an Old TV in Chicago

The Short Answer

To get rid of an old TV in Chicago, take it to an electronics recycling drop-off or have it picked up and recycled. Don’t put it in your black cart or leave it in the alley. Illinois law bans TVs from landfill-bound trash. Your main choices are the City of Chicago’s electronics drop-off on North Branch Street, a registered collection site on the Illinois EPA map, a store take-back when you buy a new set, donating a TV that still works, or booking a junk removal pickup.

If a new TV is coming for the holidays, plan for the old one now so it isn’t still leaning against the wall when guests arrive.

Why You Can’t Just Throw a TV Away

Under the Illinois Consumer Electronics Recycling Act, TVs, monitors, computers, printers, game consoles, DVD players and similar devices have to be recycled instead of landfilled. The Illinois EPA electronics recycling page lists televisions among the covered devices, and its electronics recycling FAQ explains that electronics contain materials like lead, mercury and cadmium that can contaminate soil and water if they end up in a landfill.

The rule applies whether the TV works or not. Broken, outdated and cracked-screen sets all count.

5 Ways to Get Rid of an Old TV in Chicago

1. Drop It Off at the City’s Electronics Recycling Facility

The City of Chicago’s Chicago Recycles e-waste page lists TVs, computer monitors, computers, printers, game consoles and other electronics as accepted items at the Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility (HCCRF). The City describes it as two blocks east of the Kennedy Expressway at Division Street. Posted drop-off hours are:

• Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Thursday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• First Saturday of every month, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A few things to know before you load the car. The program is for residential electronics only, and commercial electronics are not accepted. The City notes that once its truck is full, no more electronics are taken that day, and items must never be left outside the facility after hours. At the time of writing, the City’s monthly neighborhood e-waste drop-off locations are on hold, and the HCCRF page warns of possible schedule changes during facility repairs. Check both City pages the day you plan to go. You unload your own car, so bring a helper for a big or heavy set.

2. Use an Illinois EPA Electronics Collection Site

If the City facility’s hours don’t work for you, the Illinois EPA electronics collection locations page explains how to find registered drop-off points on its Beyond the Bin map: turn on the Electronics layer and search your ZIP code. The Illinois EPA notes that program collection locations may charge a fee for each TV or monitor, retail and private locations may charge fees too, and retailers don’t have to accept every device type. Call ahead to confirm they take your TV’s type and size.

3. Ask About Take-Back When You Buy a New TV

If a new TV is on your holiday list, ask the store before you check out whether it offers recycling or haul-away for your old set, what it charges, and whether there are size or type limits.

4. Donate or Sell a TV That Still Works

A working flat-screen with its remote and power cord may be useful to someone else. If you plan to drop it off at a donation center, call first, since donation centers set their own rules about which electronics they accept and older tube TVs can be hard to place. A TV that doesn’t work should be recycled, not donated.

5. Schedule a TV Pickup

Sometimes the TV just won’t fit in your car, or it’s a heavy tube set in the basement or a third-floor walk-up. Junk Robbers Inc. offers TV removal and disposal across Chicago and the suburbs. We carry it out and take it to a suitable electronics recycling route instead of the landfill. Our pricing page lists these starting prices:

Every TV pickup is quoted individually. TV type, size, quantity, condition, stairs and the carrying route are reviewed, and the price is confirmed before any work begins. Clearing out more than one TV? We also handle electronics recycling for old computers, monitors and printers, plus the TV stand or entertainment center that goes with them. See everything on our What We Take page.

How to Get Your Old TV Ready to Go

• Wipe your smart TV. Sign out of streaming and other accounts, then run a factory reset from the settings menu.
• Keep what you need. Pull any streaming sticks, soundbars, HDMI cables or wall-mount hardware you want to reuse with the new TV.
• Decide about the wall mount. Unmounting isn’t automatically part of a pickup. Take it down yourself or tell us up front so the scope is agreed before we arrive.
• Check the route. Measure tight doorways and note stairs, elevators and parking. Building elevator reservations should be arranged before pickup day.
• Lift safely. Large flat screens are awkward and tube TVs are heavy. Use two people, and keep the screen upright if it’s still in good shape.

Want more help with the rest of your electronics? Our guide on how to dispose of an old computer in Chicago covers laptops, desktops and monitors.

Frequently Asked Questions