How to Dispose of Old Monitors and Screens
Key takeaways
- Monitors and screens are WEEE and cannot go in general waste.
- Older CRT monitors contain lead and require specialist handling as hazardous waste.
- Flat-panel LCD and LED screens contain mercury backlights and recoverable materials.
- A Waste Transfer Note is required for every monitor collection.
- Display recycling is usually free for qualifying business volumes.
- Responsible recyclers recover glass, metals and plastics with zero waste to landfill.
Knowing how to dispose of old monitors and screens matters more than many businesses realise, because displays contain hazardous materials that are tightly regulated. Whether you are clearing out bulky old CRTs or replacing a row of flat-panel screens, monitors are WEEE and must be recycled through approved routes. This guide explains the rules, the hazards and how UK businesses dispose of old monitors for free.
Why monitors need special disposal
Display screens are categorised separately within the WEEE Regulations precisely because they contain hazardous substances. Improper disposal risks releasing those substances into the environment and breaches your duty of care under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Because some screen types are classed as hazardous waste, they also engage the Hazardous Waste Regulations, which impose additional controls on how the waste is described, moved and treated. Getting the classification right from the outset keeps your paperwork accurate and your disposal compliant.
Understanding the different screen types
Not all displays are equal in the eyes of the regulations. The treatment route depends heavily on the technology inside the unit, so it pays to identify what you are dealing with.
CRT monitors
Older cathode-ray tube monitors are heavy and contain significant amounts of leaded glass. They must be handled as hazardous waste, with the leaded and non-leaded glass separated for safe processing. CRT monitor disposal therefore needs a recycler equipped for the task and the correct hazardous waste documentation.
Flat-panel LCD and LED screens
Modern flat panels are lighter but contain mercury-based backlights in many LCD units, along with recoverable metals and plastics. They still require controlled treatment to remove hazardous components before materials are recovered, even though they look harmless compared with bulky CRTs.
Do monitors hold data?
Standard monitors do not store data, so they do not need wiping. However, all-in-one computers and smart displays with built-in storage do, and these should be treated as data-bearing devices with certified wiping or destruction.
The same applies to interactive whiteboards, signage players and conference-room displays with embedded operating systems. If a screen runs apps, holds settings or connects to accounts, assume it has storage that should be cleared before disposal.
How to identify hazardous screens before collection
Sorting screens in advance helps your recycler apply the right treatment and keeps your hazardous waste records accurate. A quick visual check is usually enough.
- Separate heavy, deep CRT units from slim flat panels
- Set aside any cracked or damaged screens for careful handling
- Flag all-in-ones and smart displays as data-bearing
- Group identical models together to speed up counting
- Note approximate sizes so vehicles and labour can be planned
Step-by-step monitor disposal for business
A short, repeatable process keeps display recycling simple and compliant whether you are clearing a few desks or an entire floor.
- Separate any all-in-one units that contain storage from plain monitors.
- Count your screens to confirm you meet the free-collection threshold.
- Keep CRT and flat-panel units clearly identified for the recycler.
- Book a collection with a registered WEEE carrier.
- Receive a Waste Transfer Note confirming compliant disposal.
What happens to recycled monitors
Once a display reaches an authorised treatment facility, hazardous components are removed first, then the remaining materials are separated for recovery.
Material recovery
Once hazardous components are safely removed, glass, plastics and metals are separated and sent for reprocessing. Recovered materials re-enter manufacturing supply chains rather than going to landfill, which is part of what makes free collection possible.
Reuse where possible
Working flat-panel monitors in good condition can often be tested and refurbished for reuse, which is the most sustainable outcome under the waste hierarchy. Reuse extends the life of the product and avoids the environmental cost of manufacturing a replacement.
Is monitor disposal free for businesses?
For qualifying volumes — typically combined with other IT so you reach around 10 or more items — monitor and screen disposal is free. Costs are recovered through material recovery, so there is no charge for collection or the Waste Transfer Note.
Even a stack of bulky CRTs can usually be included, although very large quantities of heavy units may need extra labour to be agreed in advance. A transparent recycler will confirm what is covered before the collection is booked.
How many screens make collection worthwhile
Monitors rarely travel alone. A typical office refresh produces screens alongside the computers they were paired with, so reaching the free-collection threshold of around 10 or more IT items is usually straightforward once you count everything together. Even a modest clear-out of a meeting room or a few desks can qualify when combined with redundant laptops, docking stations and peripherals.
If you only have a handful of screens, it is worth holding them with other end-of-life IT until you have enough for a single collection, or asking whether they can join a scheduled route in your area. Storing them safely and stacked face to face avoids damage in the meantime, which keeps working units viable for refurbishment.
Why responsible screen recycling matters environmentally
Displays concentrate some of the most problematic substances in the WEEE stream — leaded glass in CRTs and mercury in older LCD backlights. If these end up in landfill or are processed irresponsibly abroad, they can contaminate soil and water, which is precisely why UK law channels them through authorised treatment facilities.
Handled properly, the same units become a resource. Glass, aluminium, steel and the plastics in the housing are recovered and fed back into manufacturing, reducing demand for virgin materials. Choosing a recycler with a genuine zero-to-landfill ethos turns a hazardous waste problem into measurable environmental benefit you can report against.
How Ewaste.org.uk handles monitor recycling
Ewaste.org.uk collects monitors and screens free of charge for qualifying volumes nationwide, as a registered upper-tier waste carrier. CRT and flat-panel units are handled through the correct treatment routes, with hazardous components removed safely and the rest recovered for reprocessing.
Every collection comes with a Waste Transfer Note, and any all-in-one or smart display with storage is covered by certified data destruction with a Certificate of Destruction on request. To arrange a collection, call 020 4524 7964 and describe roughly how many screens you have and their type.
Compliance and record-keeping
Because screens include hazardous waste streams, accurate documentation is especially important. Keep your Waste Transfer Note on file, and ensure your recycler can evidence compliant treatment of CRT and flat-panel units.
Where hazardous waste is involved, the description on your paperwork should reflect that, and records should be retained to demonstrate the waste reached an authorised facility. This protects you in the event of an Environment Agency query and supports your wider ESG reporting.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I throw an old monitor in the bin?
No. Monitors are WEEE and many contain hazardous substances such as lead or mercury. They must be recycled through approved channels with a Waste Transfer Note, never placed in general waste.
Are old CRT monitors hazardous?
Yes. CRT monitors contain leaded glass and are treated as hazardous waste, requiring specialist handling, separation of the glass types and the correct hazardous waste documentation.
Do monitors need data wiping?
Plain monitors hold no data. All-in-one computers, smart displays and interactive screens with built-in storage do, and should be wiped or destroyed with a Certificate of Destruction.
Is monitor recycling free for businesses?
Yes, for qualifying volumes. Combining monitors with other IT to reach around 10 items usually qualifies for free collection across the UK, with documentation included.
What happens to the glass and plastic?
After hazardous components are removed, glass, metals and plastics are recovered and reprocessed into manufacturing supply chains, with nothing usable sent to landfill.
Can broken or cracked screens be collected?
Yes. Damaged screens are still WEEE and can be collected, though they should be set aside and identified so the team can handle them safely, particularly where glass is broken.
Do flat-panel screens contain mercury?
Many older LCD panels use mercury-based backlights, which is why controlled treatment is required to remove hazardous components before materials are recovered. Newer LED-backlit panels reduce but do not eliminate the need for proper treatment.