When you’re done with your satellite dish because you’re moving or you’ve decided to cut the cord, or whatever reason, what do you do with it? Leave it there? Recycle it? Send it back? It’s confusing! Let’s break it down on today’s Earth911 TV!
No satellite service provider that I’m aware of will take back their satellite dish when you’re done with it. But if we all just left them for others to deal with, it could wind up getting pretty messy after a while! So here are some tips!
Send back to the provider
DIRECTV does have a recycling page where you can request a free shipping label for electronics. They’ll take them in and recycle them through a certified R2 recycler. They don’t do the satellite dishes themselves, but they will take receivers and other devices like phones, tablets and set top boxes. Remember! Be sure to do a factory reset on phones and tablets to erase all your personal information!
DISH partners with Best Buy for free recycling of DISH equipment. You need to either drop it off at Best Buy or ship it to them via UPS at your expense.
First, check with your provider to see if they offer a program for recycling their equipment.
Other recycling options
- If they don’t, ask friends and family members if anyone needs them. Maybe someone will be moving who could reuse it.
- If not, look for local scrap vendors who might take it. Since dishes are made up of metal, plastic and computer hardware, scrap vendors might do the work of separating the plastic and metal from the electronic waste so you don’t have to.
- Earth911 doesn’t offer removal services or recycling of these dishes, but this link should help get you started on finding someone who might!
- Or, search out satellite TV dish recyclers in your local area. It’s become such a need, there are definitely companies who are coming to fill the need. Just do a search online to see if you have options in your area.
- Or, you could upcycle it yourself! There are all kinds of ideas for doing stuff like this online like art, bird baths, a Captain America shield, or a guitar!
For great ideas on recycling check out the following articles and guides:
- Earth911 Recycling Guides
- Browse all articles on recycling
- Find out where to recycle stuff in your area
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