An old TV is by no means "electronic waste". It contains various recyclable materials such as metals, plastics, and glass. Proper recycling can realize the transformation from "waste" to "treasure", which has multiple values in environmental protection, practicality, and economy.

The types of recyclable materials in old TVs are clear: For metals, there are cold-rolled steel for the outer shell, aluminum alloy for heat dissipation components, copper accounting for 15%-20% of the circuit board weight, and precious metals like silver and gold; For plastics, ABS and HIPS plastics (commonly used for screen frames) are the main types, which are heat-resistant and easy to shape; For glass, it includes liquid crystal glass and picture tube glass, which have stable compositions and are suitable for reprocessing. These materials form the core foundation for recycling and reuse.

The primary benefit of recycling these materials is addressing the "electronic waste" dilemma. If old TVs are randomly discarded, heavy metals such as lead and mercury in circuit boards will contaminate soil and water, and plastic combustion will release toxic gases. Standardized recycling can prevent over 90% of harmful substances from leaking. At the same time, it saves resources: 1 ton of recycled copper saves 150 tons of copper ore, 1 ton of recycled plastic reduces crude oil consumption by 7.4 barrels, and the reuse of liquid crystal glass also lowers energy consumption and carbon emissions in glass production.

In terms of applications, these recyclable materials can be flexibly transformed. Among metals, cold-rolled steel and aluminum alloy can be remanufactured into auto parts and construction steel; Copper in circuit boards can be refined into electrolytic copper for wires, while silver and gold can be used in chips and medical equipment. Notably, 1 ton of waste circuit boards can even yield about 300 grams of gold. After processing, plastics can be produced into toys, pipes, and storage boxes, and some can even be used for car interiors. After removing the liquid crystal layer from glass, it can be remelted into architectural or photovoltaic glass, and picture tube glass can be processed into glass fiber for thermal insulation materials.

Recycling these materials also creates dual values. Economically, a complete industrial chain of "collection - disassembly - recycling" has been formed. The recyclable materials in one old LCD TV are worth about 50-150 RMB, and this industry drives employment for over 1 million people nationwide. Socially, recycled plastic is 20%-30% cheaper than virgin plastic, helping enterprises reduce costs; Public participation in recycling also strengthens environmental awareness, contributing to the "dual carbon" goals.

The utilization of recyclable materials from old TVs is a vivid example of the circular economy. In the future, with the upgrading of recycling technologies, these "old items" will continue to release value and contribute to green development.