hardMultiple Choice
220-1102 Practice Question: A technician is decommissioning a server room and…
A technician is decommissioning a server room and finds several old cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors that still work. The company wants to dispose of them responsibly. What should the technician do?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume 'reuse' or 'donation' is always environmentally friendly, but CompTIA tests that CRTs are hazardous e-waste requiring certified recycling, not just any second-hand use.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Contact a certified CRT recycler for pickup and recycling.
CRT monitors contain leaded glass and other hazardous materials (e.g., phosphors, barium) that are classified as universal waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Disposing of them in a dumpster or donating them for non-certified reuse can violate environmental regulations. A certified CRT recycler ensures the monitors are dismantled safely, with leaded glass separated and recycled in compliance with EPA guidelines.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Sell the monitors to a local thrift store for reuse.
Why it's wrong here
Selling CRT monitors to a local thrift store is incorrect because it merely transfers the responsibility for eventual disposal without ensuring proper hazardous waste management. CRTs contain significant amounts of leaded glass, which is a regulated hazardous material. The thrift store is highly unlikely to possess the necessary certifications or processes to safely dismantle and recycle these components, potentially leading to improper landfill disposal and environmental contamination when the monitors eventually fail.
- ✗
Break the glass tubes to reduce volume and then place them in a dumpster.
Why it's wrong here
Breaking the glass tubes of CRT monitors to reduce volume and then placing them in a dumpster is a dangerous and illegal practice. This action directly releases hazardous materials, including lead oxide dust from the funnel glass and potentially phosphors containing heavy metals, into the air and environment. Furthermore, breaking the vacuum tube creates an implosion risk and violates environmental regulations (e.g., EPA's RCRA) for hazardous waste disposal, endangering workers and contaminating landfills.
- ✓
Contact a certified CRT recycler for pickup and recycling.
Why this is correct
Contacting a certified CRT recycler for pickup and recycling is the correct and environmentally responsible action. Certified recyclers adhere to stringent environmental standards, such as R2 or e-Stewards, and possess specialized equipment and processes to safely dismantle CRTs. They can properly separate leaded glass for specific processing, recover valuable metals, and manage other hazardous components, ensuring compliance with environmental laws and preventing pollution.
- ✗
Donate the monitors to a school art department for projects.
Why it's wrong here
Donating CRT monitors to a school art department, while seemingly benevolent, does not absolve the original owner of their "cradle-to-grave" responsibility for hazardous waste. The school, lacking specialized hazardous waste disposal knowledge or resources, may eventually discard the lead-containing CRTs in general waste streams. This improper disposal would lead to environmental contamination and potential legal repercussions for the original entity, as the hazardous materials would not be managed according to regulations.
Go deeper
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.