Waste Management Program
Division of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
United States
Waste Management Program
fact sheetDivision of Environmental Quality
Director: Kyra MooreAll businesses, non-profits, schools and public agencies in Missouri are required by law to properly manage certain discarded electronics. Some electronics may be classified as hazardous waste. Color televisions, computer monitors, circuit boards and other electronics contain heavy metals so they cannot legally be disposed in Missouri landfills by businesses. In older televisions, these heavy metals can include up to four pounds of lead. Other materials that can be found in televisions include chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel, zinc and brominated flame retardants.
There are three basic ways a business can choose to manage unwanted televisions: by reusing, recycling or managing as hazardous waste.
Recycling electronics, like televisions, allows for a process called resource recovery to take place. The recycling process can isolate and remove materials from a television, eliminating the need to mine new materials from the ground.
Businesses that choose not to reuse or recycle televisions must manage them as hazardous waste. Businesses must abide by applicable hazardous waste laws and regulations.
A digital convertor box is needed for an analog television to be able to receive digital signals.
Analog televisions that cannot receive a digital signal can still be useful to businesses. These televisions can be connected to a DVD or VCR and used to watch training videos or can be connected to security cameras.
Nothing in this document may be used to implement any enforcement action or levy any penalty unless promulgated by rule under chapter 536 or authorized by statute.
Division of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
United States