I might try giving it away on Freecycle/Craigslist first, but WLSSD will take it for $5-7.

Best Buy stores will accept up to 3 items per day, per family. You'll need to call them to find out if there are any specific restrictions (I don't think they take toasters, but will take printers, etc...) Right when you walk in the door, just ask the clerk who is greeting/checking receipts. Sometimes they have a shopping cart there for putting in your old electronics. When they first started this program it was completely free (part of a class action settlement with the state) but now I think they charge $10, but will give you a $10 gift card in exchange. The WLSSD Materials Recovery Center off of Rice Lake Road also accepts TVs, but charge a fee for all electronics.

I'm guessing that whatever of your four TVs you are getting rid of is nicer than my one TV which is from the late 1980's.  But it works just fine.

Ditto on the NPR story. Ask what exactly happens to the materials when you take it in because dousing it with gas and burning it in your back yard might be the same as sending to one of the recyclers.

I second (third?) the Freecycle suggestion as well as CraigsList.  Free and worth it.

E-Waste Collection Center in Superior will be taking old electronics for free throughout the month of January.

1020 Ogden Ave.
(800) 991-4612

Zeito, would this be the one that the cat knocked over?
OUTED! ;)

I am the Community Relations Director at WLSSD and can assure you that WLSSD works with a contractor that manages electronic waste responsibly in all downstream markets for materials recovered in recycling. As the local government authority regulating solid waste, WLSSD requires its potential e-waste recycling vendors to illustrate their responsible recycling management in the rigorous vendor selection process. WLSSD also lists several other local e-waste recycling options on its website.  If your TV is a Sony product, Waste Management Recycle America (Superior) takes all Sony products for free through a national program with Sony. A point of clarification as well...E-Waste Collection Center, LLC in Superior, is collecting COMPUTER products free in January.  Here's a link to their current pricing page. http://www.e-wastecc.com/Services-and-Prices.html Good luck in recycling your TV, and THANKS for managing your e-waste properly.

I typically dump my electronics in the Lake. I know it sounds crazy, but I do it in a deep part of the lake, so it's never seen again. I wish we would utilize deep parts of the lake for other selective dumping.

Good call Bob, we all should start doing the same pronto!   

@ Big E.  I have found the same problemos w/ Freecycle, that is it ends up being a bigger pain in the butt then actually getting off your butt and bringing it somewhere.

I've used Freecycle since it started in Duluth with only one or two bad experiences of no-shows ever. For the most part it works beautifully. I also agree with bluenewt, and add that you kind of need to screen your respondents, but this is true of craigslist, ebay, or any online site. If you're looking for cash for an item, Duluth's Freecycle has a sister site called Twin Ports Coffee Shop where you can sell items - again, my overall advice is the same regardless. I have also noticed that many people using TPCS really seem to expect to pay nearly nothing for items offered, and it's always the same ID/names over and over, so I personally don't use it much. To each their own. Some also offer items really cheap as they just want a little something for it vs. giving it away.

Also, if you have an issue with a person not showing up/being difficult - report them to the moderator and with the details of what happened/contact attempts - they will look into the user/contact them, and if they have other negative reports they can be placed on probation or even booted from the site.

In any case, look to see if the names/emails you get are very active in the site - some literally live on there and try to gobble up each and every offering - some rarely ever offering themselves. I've been suspicious as to some reselling, but then again you can't police everyone, and it is what it is. You also can type their ID or email into the search on the site and see how many listings come up.

Also be sure to set a date/time you want the item gone by - say by tonight or this weekend, so that there is a known limit set, and those who cannot meet that limit, won't be as likely to respond/are ruled out.

Typically, I try never to give to the names that I see in there over and over, and give someone else a chance, as I've been in that boat where it seems so hard to be the one chosen, for whatever reason. Often if I have several items, and one person is requesting more than one of the items, I'll let them have one, so others get a chance too, or again, if I'm in a hurry and someone wants it all - so be it. I kind of go with my gut and/or schedule. Other times I just want the item gone, and don't have time to dick around, and if the first respondent says they'll come that day/afternoon/evening - they move to first choice.

Another method is to use the search engine there and type in WANTED or TV (or whatever your item is) and see if any current requests come up for that item - then contact that person and offer it to them privately. This method works very well in my experience. The recipients are always very grateful and come very quickly to get the item.

There are also other ways- perhaps find out if any of the displaced Kozy residents need a TV, local group/nursing homes, or check with the Women's Shelter - as those women are often starting out again with nothing, and in the past they've accepted small appliances, furniture, and household items; things that the Damiano, Salvation Army, or Good Will won't take. Also, be sure to check with local .orgs as donations of various (working) items are often accepted.