Monitors Recycling Guide - Where to Sell and Trade In (2026)

Monitors is a category of electronic device that can be recycled, refurbished, or traded in at end of life. This guide covers where and how.

People often search for "recycle laptop" when looking for recycling options. Here's what you need to know.

Last reviewed by Sarah Chen on 23 March 2026

How do you responsibly recycle your old monitor? It's a common question as monitors are one of those devices that can stick around for years before needing an upgrade. But recycling them properly is important because monitors contain materials like glass, lead, and mercury that aren't great for the environment if not disposed of correctly.

First off, what's inside a monitor that makes proper disposal so important? Monitors often have cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) filled with phosphors and some older ones still use leaded glass. More modern LCD monitors contain liquid crystals and backlights which might include mercury or other hazardous chemicals like brominated flame retardants (BFRs). These materials can leach into the soil if left in a landfill, contaminating groundwater.

According to the WEEE Forum, over 5 billion mobile phones were estimated to be sitting unused in drawers worldwide in 2022.

So where do you go to recycle your monitor? Retailers like Best Buy in the US, Currys PC World in the UK, and Officeworks in Australia offer drop-off points. Many manufacturers also have their own recycling programs; for example, Dell's Recycling Programme allows users to send back old electronics, including monitors, at no cost.

Before you take your monitor to be recycled, it's a good idea to wipe any data from the device. You can do this by booting up an operating system and using built-in utilities like Secure Erase or Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN). Don't forget to check if there are batteries inside-most monitors don't have them anymore, but it's worth checking.

Some places let you trade in your old monitor for cash. Best Buy's Trade-In Programme is one such option where they'll give you a gift card based on the condition of the device. Staples also offers similar deals through their Tech Recycling Program.

According to the UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, only 22.3% of e-waste was properly collected and recycled in 2022.

If you throw away a monitor instead of recycling, the environmental impact can be significant. According to the United Nations' Global E-Waste Monitor report from 2019, e-waste accounts for roughly 7% of all global waste. Monitors contribute to this massive pile due to their toxic materials like lead and mercury. When these end up in landfills, they break down over time and contaminate soil and water.

Be on the lookout for specific hazardous materials as you prepare your monitor for recycling. Lithium batteries are one big concern since they can be unstable if punctured or improperly disposed of. Mercury is another, often found in fluorescent backlights of older monitors. Lead is still present in CRT screens from before 2011 when manufacturers started phasing it out.

When deciding whether to repair a monitor rather than recycle it, consider the cost and age of your device. If it's under five years old and needs a minor fix like replacing a blown backlight or fixing a broken cable connection, repairing might be worthwhile. But if you're dealing with an older model-especially one over ten years old-it probably makes more sense to recycle. The parts may no longer be available, making repair impractical.

According to the Consumer Technology Association, The average US household has 21 unused electronic devices.

Remember, recycling your monitor properly isn't just good for the environment; it's often required by law in many places. For instance, the UK's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive requires producers to provide free take-back services for old electronics.

So next time you're ready to upgrade your monitor, don't throw it away. Find a local recycling center or use one of the manufacturer programs available. It's better for everyone involved-and helps keep our planet cleaner too.

Sources

• WEEE Forum
• UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024
• Consumer Technology Association

How to Cite This Page

Sarah Chen (2026). 'Monitors'. eCycling Central. Available at: https://ecyclingcentral.com/devices/monitors (Accessed: 23 March 2026).