Before recycling a television or monitor in Toronto, check whether it could be reused, identify its display type, and confirm that your chosen location accepts it. Do not place unwanted electronics in the Blue Bin or household garbage. The City of Toronto directs residents toward approved drop-off options, collection events, or donation for reuse.
Quick Scrap Metal accepts televisions and monitors through its electronics recycling services at 407 Rexdale Blvd in Etobicoke. Acceptance, hours, unloading instructions, and payment terms can depend on the item and current policy, so confirm details before travelling.
First, choose the right end-of-life route
Recycling is not automatically the best first choice for every screen. A working television or monitor may be more useful when donated, resold, or passed to someone who can continue using it. Reuse keeps the entire product in service longer.
Recycling is generally more suitable when a screen is broken, obsolete, unsafe, missing essential parts, or unlikely to find another user. A cracked panel, damaged power cable, swollen battery, or device that overheats should not be offered for reuse without clearly explaining its condition.
| Option | Best fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Donation or reuse | Working equipment in usable condition | Whether the organization accepts its model, size, and condition |
| Resale or trade-in | Recent, functional TVs and monitors | Demand, accessories, account removal, and honest condition details |
| Municipal drop-off | Residents seeking a city-managed route | Accepted items, quantity limits, location, and current hours |
| Electronics recycler | Broken, obsolete, bulky, or mixed electronic loads | Specific display types accepted and unloading requirements |
The City of Toronto says unwanted electronics can be taken to a Drop-Off Depot or Community Environment Day, or donated for reuse. Its electronic-waste instructions state that electronics should not go in the Blue Bin or garbage.
Why the display type matters
Televisions and monitors contain different materials depending on their age and technology. Their size, construction, and internal components affect how they should be transported and processed.
A TV recycling center that handles several display types can route them appropriately. Identify the screen, transport it carefully, and let the receiving facility manage specialized components.
| Display type | Key consideration | Practical decision |
|---|---|---|
| CRT or tube TV and monitor | The picture tube contains leaded glass and is heavy and fragile. | Keep it intact and confirm that CRT units are accepted. |
| Older LCD display | Some older backlights may contain mercury-containing lamps. | Do not dismantle the panel. Use an appropriate electronics facility. |
| LED or newer LCD | Contains circuit boards, wiring, plastics, glass, and metals. | Use an electronics recycling stream and protect the panel. |
| Plasma TV | Usually large, heavy, and vulnerable to damage. | Confirm acceptance and arrange safe lifting and vehicle space. |
| OLED or rear-projection TV | Construction and size vary by model. | Describe the model or display type if acceptance is unclear. |
Ontario Regulation 522/20 lists display devices among electrical and electronic equipment categories. Do not open CRTs, remove lamps, or dismantle panels at home.
Avoid preparation mistakes before leaving home
Remove accounts and personal information
For a smart TV, streaming device, computer monitor with connected storage, or all-in-one computer, sign out of accounts and perform a factory reset when possible. Remove saved payment details, disconnect paired devices, and record anything you need before resetting.
Do not assume that a recycling facility provides data wiping or secure destruction unless it specifically confirms that service. If a monitor is part of an all-in-one computer, ask how its storage component should be handled.
Protect the screen
- Remove a detachable stand or wall mount only if you can do so safely.
- Place cardboard, blankets, or other padding between screens and hard surfaces.
- Keep televisions upright when practical, especially large or older units.
- Do not put heavy boxes on top of a screen.
- Secure the load so it cannot slide, tip, or strike other objects while driving.
Separate accessories and batteries
Bundle remotes, power cables, stands, and accessories separately. Keep loose batteries out of boxes containing screens. Do not puncture, crush, open, or tape over a swollen or damaged lithium-ion battery. Tell receiving staff about damaged batteries before unloading.
For broader advice covering cables, batteries, computers, and mixed electronics, the e-waste recycling guide offers additional preparation information.
Compare Toronto-area recycling options
The best route depends on your location, the number of screens, and whether the equipment still works. A municipal depot may suit a household with one or two units. A dedicated electronics drop-off may be more convenient when your load also includes computers, cables, appliances, or scrap metal.
| Route | Useful when | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Scrap Metal in Etobicoke | You want a local drop-off for screens alongside electronics or scrap materials. | Confirm the display type, quantity, current hours, and unloading process. |
| City of Toronto depot | You prefer a municipal route and meet residential requirements. | Hours and accepted services vary by location. |
| Donation or reuse program | The screen works and remains useful. | Programs may reject damaged, outdated, oversized, or incomplete equipment. |
| Retailer or manufacturer take-back | The product qualifies under a specific program. | Eligibility and accepted models are limited. |
Toronto lists the Disco Road Drop-Off Depot in Etobicoke as accepting electronic waste, but electronic-waste hours can differ from other depot services. Check the City’s depot locations and hours before setting out.
Planning a drop-off at Quick Scrap Metal
Quick Scrap Metal is located at 407 Rexdale Blvd in Etobicoke, near Highway 27 and Rexdale. Its electronics recycling information includes televisions and monitors alongside computers, cables, appliances, and other electronic materials.
Before visiting, ask:
- Does the yard accept this display type, including CRT, plasma, rear-projection, or oversized units?
- Is there a quantity limit or separate process for business loads?
- What are the current hours on your planned visit date?
- Where should screens be unloaded, and is help available for heavy equipment?
- Does this item have any payment value, or is it accepted only for recycling?
Do not assume that a television qualifies for cash because the yard buys qualifying scrap metal. Payment depends on the material and current policy.
Final checklist for a smooth visit
- Identify each item as CRT, LCD, LED, plasma, OLED, or rear-projection.
- Decide whether working equipment should be donated or resold.
- Sign out of accounts and reset smart devices where applicable.
- Remove detachable accessories only when safe.
- Pad screens and secure them for transport.
- Separate loose batteries and report damaged batteries before unloading.
- Do not open CRTs, remove lamps, or dismantle panels at home.
- Confirm acceptance, quantity requirements, hours, and unloading instructions.
- Bring help for a heavy or oversized television.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put an old TV or computer monitor in Toronto garbage or the Blue Bin?
No. The City says unwanted electronics should not go in the Blue Bin or garbage. Use an approved drop-off, collection event, donation route, or electronics recycler.
Do CRT televisions require different recycling than flat-screen TVs?
Yes. CRTs contain heavy leaded glass and should remain intact. Some older flat-screen displays may contain specialized components requiring careful handling.
Should I erase data before recycling a smart TV or monitor?
Yes. Sign out, remove personal information, and reset the device where possible. Confirm any data-destruction service separately.
Can I recycle a broken or oversized television in Etobicoke?
Possibly, but confirm first. Describe the display type, size, condition, and quantity, and ask about safe unloading.
Do Toronto recycling locations pay cash for televisions and monitors?
Not necessarily. Scrap-metal payment terms do not automatically apply to displays. Ask whether your specific item has payment value before arriving.
Make the safer choice for your old screen
A working television or monitor may deserve another user through donation or resale. A broken, obsolete, unsafe, or unwanted screen should go through a suitable electronics recycling route, not household garbage or the Blue Bin. Identifying the display type, protecting it during transport, and confirming acceptance will prevent most avoidable problems.
For a Toronto-area drop-off at 407 Rexdale Blvd in Etobicoke, contact Quick Scrap Metal to confirm current acceptance, hours, unloading instructions, and applicable terms for your television or monitor.