How to Get Rid of a TV Dish

Satellite TV dishes are a form of electronics waste. They contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury that can leach out over time and harm the environment and human health. Consequently, you must do more than simply toss your satellite dish into your regular trash to get rid of it. You will need to investigate various potential disposal options in your community and choose an option that matches the specific disposal needs.

Things You'll Need

• Ladder (optional)
• Helper (optional)
• Tool set

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Instructions

• 1

  Contact your satellite service provider and ask about return and recycling programs. Some satellite service companies will reuse the dish materials to construct new dishes or donate usable dishes to charities and organizations that can’t afford new dishes. If the company offers a recycling program, ask if they can also remove the dish at no cost from your home or business, and then schedule removal or pickup.

• 2

  Remove the dish from your property if the company won’t take it back or help remove it. If the dish is mounted in an area you can’t reach from a porch or window, set a ladder up under it and ask someone to stand near the ladder as you work. Turn off any power to the dish or attached cables. Detach the cables and then detach the dish from your house with wrenches, screwdrivers or both.

• 3

  Contact your local waste disposal facility about disposal options. Some facilities offer recycling and will even pick up old dishes at curbside. If your facility offers this option, follow any instructions given to you to dispose of your TV dish. If your facility doesn’t offer recycling, ask the facility representative about local recycling options, then contact those local recycling centers for assistance.

• 4

  Contact local charities, schools, churches and other non-profits if the dish is reusable and you can’t find a recycler in your area. Many charitable organizations may take a satellite dish to use for their programs or to donate elsewhere.

• 5

  Offer the dish online through a free donation site such as Freecycle.org or ReuseMoose.com. Take a picture of the dish and post it, along with a description of the dish, including its brand, model and age. Wait for responses to your posting and then schedule a pickup.