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Getting rid of an old TV or computer in Texas
That old tube TV in the closet and the dead desktop under the desk both have somewhere to go. Here are the state programs and the local options.
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Texas makes the manufacturers offer recycling
Texas law requires TV and computer manufacturers to offer recycling to consumers. For computers, TCEQ points people to TexasRecyclesComputers.org, where you can find out how to recycle a computer for free. For TVs, it points to TexasRecyclesTVs.org for your options.
TCEQ keeps a list of TV makers that have told the state they offer a recycling program. TCEQ itself doesn't run collection sites. Its program helps you find local options: the manufacturer's own program, an electronics recycler near you, or a household hazardous waste program.
Start with the brand name on the back of the set. That tells you which program to look up.
Local drop-offs in the Brazos Valley
Closer to home, BVSWMA runs a household hazardous waste collection for residents of seven Brazos Valley counties.
TCEQ's list shows the next one on Oct. 24, 2026, at 3380 University Drive East in College Station.
Whether it takes TVs or computers this time is posted on the Twin Oaks site, so check before you load them. Programs change what they take, and nobody wants to be turned away with a trunk full of monitors.
What not to do with it
Don't stuff it in the trash cart. Bryan's cart rules say it can't hold electronics, along with furniture, appliances and chemicals.
Don't smash an old tube TV to make it fit. The glass is thick and breaks in sharp chunks. Keep it whole and upright, and carry it with two people. Older sets are much heavier than they look, and most of the weight sits in the front.
Don't toss a flat screen face-down in a truck bed with other junk on top. A cracked panel is harder for anyone to handle or recycle.
And don't leave it at the curb with a sign that says free. In a rainstorm it's junk in a few hours, and it may sit there long after your bulky day has come and gone.
Before a computer leaves the house
Wipe it first. Back up what you want to keep, then sign out of your accounts and reset the machine to factory settings. For an old desktop or laptop that won't boot, pull the hard drive and keep it, or have it destroyed. A dead computer can still hold years of tax returns, photos and saved passwords.
Phones and tablets need the same treatment. Remove any SIM or memory card, too.
If it still works
A working flat screen or a laptop that still boots may have more life in it. A family member, a neighbor, a school club or a local listing might want it. Test it first and be upfront about any problems. Give away the remote and power cord with it. Without those, a working TV is a lot less useful to the next person.
Cords, chargers and small gadgets pile up fast. Bag them together so they go out in one trip with the rest.
When it's part of a bigger cleanout
Old electronics tend to pile up in a spare room, a home office or an attic: a TV, a printer, a box of cords, a monitor from three computers ago. If it's just one item, the programs above are the way to go. If it's a whole room, it may be easier to clear it in one trip.
ME3 Junk Solutions handles household junk removal for that kind of mix. Text a photo to (214) 699-7855 for a range, and you'll get one firm price before anything is loaded.
Paint, batteries and chemicals in the same room? See household hazardous waste in the Brazos Valley. An old fridge going too? Read throwing out a refrigerator in Texas. The Brazos Valley disposal guide has every town's rules.
Want it handled instead?
ME3 Junk Solutions does the lifting, loading and hauling, with one firm price before anything is loaded.