With the Digital Switchover sweeping across the UK many businesses are, understandably, focusing on the more urgent matter of upgrading aerials and TVs.

There is, however, one more thing to consider if you are replacing old CRT TVs with new LCD or Plasma TVs. That is how to dispose of the CRT TVs in an environmentally-friendly way.

Unfortunately as a business, you can’t just take your old CRT TVs to your local recycling centre. You are required – under the WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) Directive to dispose of electrical and electronic equipment separately from your other waste.

The following types of products are covered by this directive: CRT TVs, PC Monitors, Fridges, Freezers, Fridge/Freezers and NiCd batteries. Please note that LCD TVs and Plasma TVs are exempt.

To arrange for your old CRT TVs or any of the aforementioned items to be recycled legally just follow these simple steps:

1. Is the amount of scrap you want to recycle in a year more than 200kg? If the answer is yes you will need to obtain a Waste Producer Number. If the answer is no you will need to obtain an Exemption Number. Both of these numbers can be obtained from the Environment Agency. Visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk for more information.

2. Find out the name of a registered waste carrier or other approved business. Comet Business Services is an approved business and we can take your old TVs and electrical items away to be recycled for a non-profit making charge.

3. Contact the registered waste carrier and place your order to have the products removed. Please note that there is a £10 non-profit making charge to input the relevant information onto the official government website.

4. Confirm your Waste Producer Number or Exemption Number with the waste carrier.

5. The waste carrier will complete either a Waste Transfer Note or Hazardous Waste Consignment Note. This is a Duty of Care document to ensure that the waste carrier is notifying the Government Agency of any collection of hazardous waste from Commercial premises and also that the waste carrier is disposing of waste (WEEE) in the correct manner. Only 1 note needs to be completed per premises, regardless of the weight or quantity of items collected.

6. Upon collection the white copy of the Note is left with you so you have proof that your prouduct(s) have been collected and disposed of in the correct way.

Comet Business Services, one of the BHA’s Corporate Partners have recognised that disposing of a large quantity of CRT TVs can be expensive, and therefore can provide a cost effective way of disposing of them based on the quantity collected from a single location or multiple locations within the same area. What’s more, if you purchase your replacement Digital TVs from Comet Business Services they can look at reducing the collection cost further.

For more information about Comet Business Services’ collection and recycling service call them on 0844 499 2828.