CRT Tube TV Disposal in Houston
Old CRT, console, and tube televisions handled the right way. Drop-off in Sugar Land or scheduled pickup for the heavy ones, with leaded glass routed to certified downstream processors.
CRT televisions, the deep, heavy tube sets from before flat panels, are the single hardest TV to get rid of in Texas. They contain four to eight pounds of lead in the funnel glass, mercury-free phosphor coatings that are still classified as universal waste, and a vacuum tube that can implode if it is dropped or cracked. EverTrade Electronics is a Sugar Land based recycler that accepts every kind of CRT, from a small kitchen tube TV to a 200-pound wood-cabinet console, and processes it under Texas TCEQ rules with a documented chain of custody. If your set is bigger than you can comfortably move, we can pick it up.
Why CRTs are not regular trash
Houston haulers, Texas landfills, and almost every donation center stopped taking tube TVs years ago. Here is what makes them different from a flat panel.
CRTs and tube displays we accept
Console & Floor TVs
Big wood-cabinet sets from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, including Zenith, RCA, Magnavox, Sony Trinitron, and similar.
Tabletop Tube TVs
Smaller picture-tube sets up to about 32 inches, including kitchen, garage, and bedroom TVs.
CRT Computer Monitors
Old beige-box CRT monitors from desktops, including 15-inch through 21-inch trinitron and aperture-grille models.
Broadcast & Studio Monitors
Production CRTs, video village monitors, and similar specialty tube displays from broadcast or AV closets.
Cracked or Damaged Tubes
Sets that are broken, cracked, or have a shattered screen. Call first so we can plan safe handling.
Whole Lots of CRTs
Schools, churches, and AV closets clearing out a stack of old units, we can take a pallet at a time.
What happens to your CRT
1. Manual disassembly
Each set is opened by hand. Cabinets are separated from the picture tube, boards, and yoke assembly.
2. Tube segregation
Funnel and panel glass are separated and routed to a certified leaded-glass downstream processor.
3. Phosphor handling
Inner phosphor coatings are managed as universal waste, never released into the general recycling stream.
4. Material recovery
Copper from yokes, steel from chassis, and circuit boards are sorted for downstream metal recovery.
Nothing in the unit gets shredded into a mixed stream. Glass goes to a permitted leaded-glass processor, metals go to permitted scrap recovery, and circuit boards go to a board recycler. We can document the path on request for schools, churches, and businesses that need it for an audit.
Heavy console TV pickup
Old wood-cabinet console sets from the 70s and 80s frequently weigh 150 to 250 pounds. We do not recommend trying to wrestle one down a flight of stairs by yourself, the tube can shatter, and the cabinet often disintegrates as it moves. Call us instead. Two team members, the right vehicle, and proper lifting gear means the unit comes out clean and goes straight to processing.
Texas regulatory context
Texas runs the Texas Recycles TVs program through the TCEQ, which requires manufacturers to provide free TV recycling for residents. EverTrade is independent of that program, but we follow the same handling rules: leaded glass is segregated, phosphor coatings are managed as universal waste, and downstream partners are required to provide documentation. If you are a school district or municipal customer that needs to record disposal for a state or federal report, we can provide weights and a serialized record on request.
Looking for a deeper write-up on how the program works in our region? See our 2026 Houston e-waste report for context on landfill rules, regional volumes, and where TVs typically end up.
Frequently asked questions
Can I throw a CRT tube TV in the trash in Houston?
No. CRT televisions contain four to eight pounds of lead in the funnel glass plus phosphor coatings, which is why most Texas haulers and the City of Houston do not accept them at the curb. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality treats CRT glass as a regulated material that has to go through a certified recycler. EverTrade is one of the local options.
Why is CRT TV disposal harder than recycling a flat-screen?
CRT funnel and panel glass are bonded with leaded frit and have to be separated, sorted, and shipped to specialized downstream processors. The phosphor coating inside the screen is also classified as universal waste. Modern flat-panel sets, by contrast, can be processed through standard e-waste streams.
Do you pick up old console TVs that one person cannot lift?
Yes. Vintage console and large tube sets can weigh well over a hundred pounds. Call ahead so we can plan a two-person pickup, schedule the right vehicle, and confirm parking or stair access at your location.
Do you accept CRT computer monitors as well as tube TVs?
Yes. We take both consumer CRT televisions and CRT computer monitors. The handling is the same: leaded glass separated, phosphor handled as universal waste, and the rest of the cabinet broken down for material recovery.
What if my CRT is already broken or cracked?
Tell us when you call so we can plan handling. A cracked tube needs to be moved carefully because of glass shards and lead-bearing dust. We have done plenty of these and have the gear for it, do not try to clean up a broken tube yourself.
Related Glossary Terms
E-Waste
Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to discarded electronic devices and equipment, including computers, monitors, phones, and peripherals that have reached end-of-life.
ComplianceTCEQ Reporting
TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) oversees electronic waste management in Texas and requires registered recyclers to report recycling volumes and downstream disposition.
ProcessesMaterial Recovery
Material recovery is the process of extracting valuable raw materials from recycled electronics, including precious metals (gold, silver, palladium), copper, aluminum, and plastics.
Ready to get rid of that tube TV?
Drop it off in Sugar Land, or call us to handle the heavy ones. EverTrade keeps it local and documents the chain of custody.