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!

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.
• 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.