The short answer
TVs are electronic waste in California and are not allowed in household trash. In San José your options are a facility that accepts e-waste, a city program that takes electronics, a retailer or manufacturer take-back program, selling a working set, or a flat pickup. JunkRabbit charges $62 for a TV under 42 inches, $68 for 42 to 65 inches and $73 for 65 inches and up, with a $100 order minimum.
Why a TV cannot go in the garbage
In California, TVs, monitors and most electronics are classified as universal waste. CalRecycle and the state's toxic substances regulators treat them as hazardous when thrown away, because screens and circuit boards contain metals that should not be landfilled. The result is simple: a TV does not go in your black cart, even broken and even small.
That rule applies to every TV, including the flat screens that look like nothing more than plastic and glass. Older, heavier sets with tubes are even more important to handle properly.
So the question in San José is not whether to recycle a TV. It is which recycling route fits your time, your vehicle and how far the set has to travel from the living room. A 75 inch screen in a North San José tower is a different problem from a 32 inch set in a garage in Blossom Valley.
Drop-off and city options
Zanker Recycling on Los Esteros Road in North San José accepts electronics. It charges per device, and the current rate is on its sheet. Its main site keeps weekday hours, Monday to Friday.
The SMaRT Station at 301 Carl Road in Sunnyvale is open 8 to 5 daily for residents of Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas and Santa Clara. Check its rates for e-waste before you go.
San José's Junk Pickup is free for owners and renters at the curb on your garbage day, up to 12 items. Check the accepted-items list on the City's page for electronics before you book.
Santa Clara's Annual Cleanup Campaign accepts e-waste, though not lithium-battery devices. It runs in spring, and in 2026 it ran April 27 to May 22.
Selling or giving away a working TV
A working flat screen under five years old will usually find a taker, especially in June when students around SJSU and Santa Clara University are moving and recent arrivals for tech jobs are furnishing their first place.
List it with the size, the model year, whether the remote is included and whether it has its stand or only a wall mount. Buyers ask about all four.
Wipe your accounts before it goes. Smart TVs keep streaming logins, Wi-Fi passwords and sometimes payment details. Do a factory reset from the settings menu.
Large screens are fragile in transit. Panels crack if they are laid flat or flexed, so transport them upright and padded. If the buyer turns up in a compact car for a 65 inch set, the sale is likely to fall through. Say in the listing that it needs an SUV or a van.
Getting a TV off the wall
Wall-mounted TVs are the norm in newer San José apartments and condos, and taking one down safely takes two people. Most mounts lift the TV up and off a bracket after you loosen safety screws or pull a release strap.
Unplug everything first: power, HDMI, the soundbar and the cable box. Bundle the cords. One person supports the bottom of the screen while the other releases the mount. Lay a blanket on the floor before you start, and never set a large panel face-down on a hard surface.
Decide what happens to the bracket. If you are moving out of a rental, your lease may require you to take it down and patch the holes. If you are staying, leave it in place.
Once the TV is down and leaning against a wall, the pickup is fast. Mounts set high over a fireplace or on a stairwell wall are worth asking a handyman to help with before pickup day.
Flat TV and media furniture prices
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| TV (Under 42") | $62 |
| TV (42" to 65") | $68 |
| TV (65"+) | $73 |
| Entertainment Center / TV Stand | $96 |
| Stereo / Sound System | $52 |
| Speaker System (Large) | $57 |
| Box of Electronics | $77 |
A single TV is below the $100 order minimum, so a 55 inch set on its own bills at $100. Add its stand and it is $68 + $96 = $164. Two TVs, one large and one small, from a living room and a bedroom are $73 + $62 = $135.
Each price covers carrying it out from any floor and disposal, with no stairs fee.
Booking a TV pickup
Snap a photo of the TV, note the screen size and get your total on the instant quote page. The price is fixed before you book and only changes if you approve.
Bundle anything else electronic while you are at it. Old cable boxes, routers, game consoles and tangles of cords fill a box of electronics at $77. A TV, a stand and a box of electronics come to $68 + $96 + $77 = $241.
Vetted, insured local haulers work seven days a week from 8am to midnight in two-hour arrival windows. Book by 4 PM and same-day pickup is usually possible, whether the TV is in a Willow Glen den or a tower unit downtown that needs a certificate of insurance first. We email COIs within one hour. We recycle whatever we can.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a TV in the trash in San Jose?
No. TVs and most electronics are universal waste in California and are not allowed in household trash. Use an e-waste drop-off, a city program that accepts electronics, or a pickup.
Where can I drop off a TV near San Jose?
Zanker Recycling on Los Esteros Road accepts electronics on weekdays and charges per device. The SMaRT Station in Sunnyvale serves several nearby cities daily from 8 to 5.
How much is TV removal?
Under 42 inches is $62, 42 to 65 inches is $68 and 65 inches and up is $73. The order minimum is $100, so pair a TV with its stand or another item.
Should I take the TV off the wall before pickup?
Yes, if you can do it safely with two people. Unplug everything, release the mount and lean the TV upright against a wall on a blanket. The crew carries it out from there.
Does Santa Clara's cleanup take TVs?
Santa Clara's Annual Cleanup Campaign accepts e-waste but not lithium-battery devices. It runs once a year in spring, residents only.