Old TVs, ready to be discarded, pose a problem for the environment. Reusing them is possible, but finding replacement parts can be difficult meaning TVs that are not fully functional must be thrown away. But they do not sit well in landfills either. Besides the fact that TVs can take a very long time to decompose, they also contain a wide range of dangerous chemicals that are harmful to the environment. What then, should we do with our old, unwanted, TVs?

In this video, Todd Sutton, the Waste Sleuth, digs up the answers to this question when he follows the path of an old TV through the recycling process. It all begins at S.A.F.E., a facility for processing household hazardous waste. That's right, old TVs can contain cadmium, lead, and other carcinogens. If it's thrown into the landfill, the only place for these hazardous substances to go is into the soil and water.

Fortunately, TVs can be recycled, which limits the amount of toxins they release. Todd takes us through the process from sorting to dismantling, crushing the CRT tubes to the extraction of lead.