704.9 million — That’s how many cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions have been sold just in the USA since 1980, according to the EPA.
42.4% — How many of those TVs are estimated to still be in use.
23.9 million — Number of CRT TVs that will be thrown out in 2008, adding up to an estimated 711,029 tons of televisions. “Numbers for end-of-life TVs have been over 20 million per year since 2005, and are expected to go up to almost 25 million by 2010. Compare this to 10 years ago, when the numbers were closer to 12 million sets disposed of per year. ”
18% — By weight, that’s how many of the TVs thrown out during 2006-2007 were recycled. Between 1999 and 2005, the rate was 15%. The rest went to landfills.
46,643 — How many tons of lead is estimated to be inside TVs landfilled in 2008. This is not counting computer CRT monitors.
For more about this and about television recycling, see the source for these numbers: Popular Mechanics.
