[mds33200]

Hi, I work in the cellular industry (cell phone industry, not cellular biology industry). I refurbish cell phones and often times come in contact with broken or cracked LCD's.

In the past I would always just toss the broken ones in the trash, but I was thinking "maybe they are toxic" so I started tossing bad ones in a box. So I have a box with about 100 - 150 bad cellular phone LCD's.

So, I was wondering if they need to be professionally disposed of, or if I can just toss em into the dumpster?

I googled "lcd disposal" and mostly people only talk about big computer LCDs- im sure of the materials differs somewhat in the larger computer LCDs. A search of "cellular LCD disposal" yield no result.

Anything I do find on google only says "check with your local state guidelines". I checked my state guidelines for hazardous materials and there is nothing under "LCD" so I assume I have to look up the indivigual components, which I do not know (since they are from random phones.. that means random manufacturers). So any advice is appreciated!

[eugenedakin]

Hello mds33200,

A very good question 

A government study on LCD's contain hazardous levels of copper and lead: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/EWaste/upload/HWMP_FS_SB20_LCD.pdf

If you are not sure of the composition of LCD's in phones versus computer's, I would stay on the side of caution and dispose of them appropriately.

Here is an article that discusses a few options that you can choose for disposal of LCD's http://www.highdisplay.com/disposal-of-lcd-monitors/

I hope this helps, and provides you with a few choices.

Best wishes,

Eugene