29/03/2011 - Permalink

Recycle your old TV after the digital switchover

Related topics: Community / Leisure, culture and heritage

TVs being recycled at a recycling centre
People planning to buy a new television as the digital switchover takes place in Shropshire are encouraged to take their old set to one of the county’s five household recycling centres (HRCs) to be recycled.

The switchover to digital TV for households in Shropshire will begin on Wednesday 6 April 2011.

From this date people using televisions that still use the old analogue signal will have to buy a new digital TV, or upgrade their existing set to receive digital signals, through a digital set-top box, satellite, or cable.

As around 96 per cent of a modern TV can be recycled, if people no longer have a use for their old television, it can be taken to one of the HRCs for recycling.

All TVs and monitors taken to the HRCs are sent to Preston Recycling Ltd in Lancashire for recycling.  The hazardous materials are safely removed and recycled and then the monitors are stripped for components.  The monitors are then shattered to allow raw materials like plastic, glass and metal to be recycled.

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for economy and waste, said:

“At present we recycle around 55 tonnes of TV sets each month in the county.  We are already beginning to see a big increase in the amount of TVs coming through our HRCs each month and we expect to receive even more during the digital switchover.

“Not far off 100 per cent of a typical television can be recycled – which is very positive.  However, if people can reuse their old TVs instead of throwing them away, that would be even better.”

Shropshire’s five household recycling centres are located at:

  • Shrewsbury (Battlefield Enterprise Park)
  • Oswestry (Mile Oak Industrial Estate)
  • Whitchurch (Waymills Civic Park)
  • Craven Arms (off Long Lane)
  • Bridgnorth (Stanley Lane)

The centres are operated on behalf of Shropshire Council by Veolia Environmental Services.

For more information on the digital switchover, visit www.digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456 505050.

About the digital switchover

Both the main Wrekin transmitter which covers most of Shropshire and the Oakley Mynd transmitter which covers some of south Shropshire and the Welsh borders will be switched off in two stages.

On 6 April 2011 BBC2 analogue is switched off.  You will need to retune your digital equipment to pick up the available channels.

On 20 April 2011 the remaining analogue channels are switched off.  You will need to retune your digital equipment again to pick up additional channels.