A 2020 report from the Global E-waste Monitor shows that the volume of e-waste increased by 21% in five years.
This means that how we manage our e-waste is crucial.
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This can go a long way in improving our e-waste efforts and reducing the environmental impact of discarded devices.
Itโs important to have an idea of what to do with old cable boxes so that you donโt end up throwing them away.
Weโve come up with some simple tips on how we can divert our old cable boxes from the trash and make them work for us in the future.
Unlike other electronic devices, there isnโt much you can do with a cable box.
That being said, it still doesnโt mean you should simply get rid of it without ever giving it a second thought.
Time and again we see consumers willingly throwing away old electronics that still have their charm or even features that can be useful.
Thatโs because most of us simply donโt know how to use our cable TV box device properly, or just donโt know what to do with it once we get tired of it.
However, there are a few simple things that you can do with your old cable TV box.
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What to do with old cable boxes: 7 practical ideas
Due to the nature of their functionality, many people consider their cable boxes to be nothing more than useless pieces of junk.
In some cases, this is the truth, but there are instances where an old cable box can genuinely help you achieve something.
Weโd hate to see you throw your TV box away just because you thought it was a waste of space.
We have come up with simple ideas that can help you in making use of the old cable box if you donโt want it to end up getting thrown away.
1. Give it to a family member
There is a very common sense in this that many people make while they are acquiring new devices.
That being said, it is time you start the process and give your old cable box to someone.
For example, you can hand it to your nephew or your cousin or maybe to a close friend of yours.
This helps keep the old cable box out of landfills and ensures that someone will benefit from it.
Theyโll find it very useful and theyโll also be able to entertain their family members with cable TV.
But make sure the cable box is not damaged, or else they may not be able to use it.
Also, make sure that the cable box you hand over to them supports the TV service in their home.
With a bit of research, you can always find out if your family memberโs place has the same service provider as you do.
In that case, they can use the same cable box with no issues.
If not, get them to switch to your cable service provider and then give it to them.
2. Entertainment center for your little ones
Has your child got an eye for gadgets?
Do they like to play around with your gadgets?
Have you gotten tired of your old cable box and are thinking of getting rid of it?
Then why not make an entertainment center for them out of that?
TV can be an educational tool for your children.
Findingsย from several studies suggest preschool children can learn the alphabet and numbers from educational TV programs such as Sesame Street.
They are also more receptive to school and perform better.
All you need to do is repurpose the old cable box or enclosure and provide all the basic amenities such as a TV, gaming console, DVD player, speakers, etc.
This way, you can also keep track of what theyโre watching or playing with at any given time.
The kids will love this setup and youโll get to be a part of their fun.
Get them the educational and entertaining content they need without having to worry too much.
3. Use it to set up a TV in your bedroom
Many people have a TV in their bedroom for the sake of entertainment.
Thatโs not all, you also need an old cable box to keep track of your channels.
Why not make use of the old cable box in your bedroom so that you can get rid of clutter and keep things neat?
Surely, there are some channels that you love and some that you hate.
Either way, the old cable box lets you keep track of them, and everything is within your reach.
That said, make sure the TV box you keep in your bedroom supports the service provider in your residence.
If youโre switching from cable to OTA TV and have decided to use HDTV antennae, then one option would be to simply attach it to the side of the television using an over-the-air TV signal amplifier which can dramatically improve reception when used with quality outdoor antennae.
From there, television entertainment is only a cable box away.
Watch TV in your bedroom without interruptions, without clutter, and the need for an additional TV box.
4. Retail drop-off
Is there a store or some retail stores nearby your residence?
In that case, you can just hand over your old cable box to them for free.
The great thing about this idea is you can also get an additional device or purchase more devices.
This is true if your device was in good condition.
Best Buy, for example, sells used electronics.
It will also take off your hands that old cable box, assuming it doesnโt have problems or maybe some third-party issues.
You can always check out what they offer and visit their store to see if they are willing to buy your old cable box device or recycle it.
5. Donate to STEM programs
STEM programs are an important part of education, especially when it comes to kids.
These programs teach you how to build a variety of things and how to use your imagination.
As reports indicate, the United States will require it in the future.
Therefore, this is one of the best ways that a cable box can be beneficial for future generations.
For example, you can donate it to your kidโs school or a program where students learn math, science, and technology.
Some of the projects done require older technology, so an old cable box can work well for these kids.
They will learn how to use it and theyโll be grateful for it.
If you are not sure how to go about donating a cable box, then make sure to contact the school administration and check with them on what they need most.
If they say they want one, then donate your device to them.
If not, ask if you can donate it in some other way and see how you could help them out.
6. Recycle
With the amount of electronic waste thatโs being generated every day, there is no way one can say recycling isnโt a good idea.
Recycling is a great idea that allows you to reduce the amount of waste we generate, but itโs not all about doing good for the environment and the people around us.
It is also good for the economy, as well.
This is why companies and agencies need to collect electronic waste.
At the same time, some organizations take one old cable box and recycle it so that it can be used by others in other ways.
Take the cable box to an agency or organization that is willing to recycle it.
There are many ways one can recycle an old cable box and theyโre all good.
If youโre not sure how to check out the internet for information and make sure that your TV box gets recycled responsibly.
7. Return it to your service provider
If you got the TV box from your service provider, then it may be possible to return it to them.
Many of them take back the old cable box and dispose of them in the right manner.
Theyโll check if any issues need to be resolved and then theyโll recycle them for you.
That will also get you one step closer to getting rid of clutter.
If they donโt, then you can always search online for a recycling service that deals with your device and send it to them.
Itโs all in your hands and you can do whatever you think is right for you.
Final Thoughts
From the above article, you can see that there are many things you can do with an old cable box.
The only problem is that you need to know if your device can be reused or recycled.
If it canโt be used for anything else, then recycling it may be a good idea so that you wonโt have to toss it in the trash.
FAQs
How do I dispose of cable boxes?
You can dispose of cable boxes at your local recycling center.
Check if they accept electronic equipment and use them to recycle the old cable box into useful materials.
This is one way to help the environment and keep your home clutter-free, as well.
Are old cable boxes worth anything?
Most of the time, the cable box is tied to the service provider and theyโll reuse the same device to accommodate new customers.
For that reason, itโs difficult to sell a cable box and make money from it.