220-1202 Practice Question: Dispose of several old CRT monitors from an office

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✗

  Place them in the regular dumpster for bulk trash pickup.

  Why it's wrong here

  Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors contain significant amounts of hazardous materials, most notably lead in the glass funnel and neck, and cadmium, mercury, and phosphors in the screen coating. Disposing of these in a regular dumpster is illegal in many jurisdictions due to environmental protection laws and poses severe risks of soil and water contamination. These toxic substances can leach into landfills, harming ecosystems and human health, making this an environmentally irresponsible and often unlawful practice.

• ✓

  Take them to a certified e-waste recycling center.

  Why this is correct

  Certified e-waste recycling centers possess the specialized equipment and trained personnel required to safely dismantle CRTs. They are equipped to properly separate and neutralize hazardous materials, such as leaded glass, mercury, and phosphors, preventing environmental contamination. Furthermore, these facilities recover valuable raw materials like copper, aluminum, and non-leaded glass, promoting resource conservation and ensuring compliance with stringent environmental regulations like the EPA's universal waste rule.

• ✗

  Smash the glass and separate the components for metal recycling.

  Why it's wrong here

  Smashing a CRT is extremely dangerous due to the potential for implosion, which can propel glass shards at high velocity, causing severe injury. More critically, it releases fine dust containing lead, cadmium, and other toxic phosphors into the air, posing significant inhalation and contact hazards to anyone nearby. Furthermore, simply separating visible metals does not address the embedded hazardous materials in the glass and circuit boards, making this an environmentally irresponsible and unsafe practice.

• ✗

  Donate them to a local school for reuse.

  Why it's wrong here

  Donating old CRTs to a school for reuse is generally inappropriate for disposal purposes, as these units are often obsolete, energy-inefficient, and may not meet current safety or ergonomic standards for educational environments. The technician's primary responsibility is the proper *disposal* of end-of-life equipment, which involves ensuring hazardous materials are managed correctly, not merely transferring the disposal burden or liability to another entity. Modern LCDs offer superior performance, energy efficiency, and safety compared to CRTs.

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