How to Dispose of a TV & Electronics in Cape Girardeau, MO

The one thing to know about TVs

In Cape Girardeau, most electronics recycle easily and for free - but televisions and computer monitors are the exception. The City contracts with Midwest Recycling Center (MRC) for electronics recycling at the Recycling Center (2007 Southern Expressway), and their program specifically does not accept TVs or monitors. Those must go to the Transfer Station for disposal instead. Knowing this up front saves you a wasted trip.

Free electronics recycling (most items)

Through the City's program at 2007 Southern Expressway, you can drop off a wide range of electronics at no charge, including:

• Computers, laptops, and hard drives
• Printers, scanners, and fax machines
• Keyboards, speakers, and stereos
• VCR/DVD players, radios, and answering machines
• Cell phones and pagers
• Power tools and microwaves

Wipe or destroy personal data on any device with storage before dropping it off - reset phones and remove or wipe computer hard drives.

Protect your data before recycling

Electronics recycling is also a privacy issue. Before you hand off any phone, laptop, tablet, or computer, sign out of your accounts, factory-reset the device, and either wipe or physically remove the hard drive or storage. Don't forget less obvious storage - printers, external drives, and even some copiers retain data. For sensitive files, removing and destroying the drive is the surest method. Recyclers process high volumes and can't guarantee your information for you, so a few minutes of prep protects you.

Where TVs and monitors go

Because MRC won't take them, TVs and monitors go to the City of Cape Girardeau Transfer Station at 2055 Corporate Circle (weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) for disposal. Disposal is by weight with a $25 minimum charge as of 7/1/25, and your load must be secured. Old CRT (tube) TVs are especially heavy and awkward, so bring a helper.

Missouri e-waste rules, briefly

Missouri's 2008 "Manufacturer Responsibility and Consumer Convenience Equipment Collection and Recovery Act" requires computer manufacturers to offer free recycling programs for household computer equipment. Missouri does not ban electronics from landfills, but recycling is strongly encouraged and manufacturers must provide convenient recovery options. Many brands offer mail-back or drop-off programs - worth checking your manufacturer's website for TVs specifically.

Other reuse options

• Donate working electronics: Functional TVs, stereos, and computers in good shape may be accepted by local thrift stores - call first.
• Retailer trade-in/take-back: Some electronics retailers accept old devices for recycling when you buy new.
• Manufacturer mail-back: Under Missouri's recovery law, many computer and TV brands offer free take-back or prepaid mail-in recycling - check your manufacturer's support site.

Don't forget batteries and bulbs

Small electronics often come with extras that need their own handling. Rechargeable batteries and lithium button cells should never go loose in the trash, where they can spark fires, and fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. Keep these out of your household junk pile and set them aside for a battery drop-off, a retailer that collects them, or a city household-hazardous-waste event. Remove batteries from any device before recycling it when you can.

We haul it (the easy way)

Have a big old projection TV, a stack of monitors, or an office worth of dead electronics? We collect it all in one stop, route recyclable devices to the right place, and take TVs and monitors to the transfer station for disposal - all in one upfront, volume-based price. No sorting, no heavy lifting, no multiple trips. Call (573) 266-2040.

Sources

City of Cape Girardeau electronics recycling (MRC): cityofcapegirardeau.org. Missouri electronics rules: dnr.mo.gov. Last verified 2026-08-01.