The correct answer is CRT monitors, as they contain leaded glass in the cathode ray tube along with significant amounts of lead in the solder and phosphor coating, making them hazardous electronic waste that requires specialized disposal to prevent lead from leaching into groundwater. This concept tests your knowledge of proper hazardous materials handling under the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam objectives, specifically within the domain of environmental safety and proper disposal procedures. A common trap on the exam is confusing CRTs with LCDs, which may contain mercury in backlights but are often managed differently under regulations like the EPA’s RCRA or the EU’s WEEE Directive. To remember this, think of the heavy lead in a CRT’s glass—it’s the “heavy” hazard you must separate, while LCDs are a lighter concern.
220-1102 Environmental Awareness and Impact Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of environmental awareness and impact. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A small business wants to reduce its environmental footprint by properly managing old computer equipment. They ask which components must be handled separately due to hazardous materials. What should you identify?
Why wrong: This is incorrect because LCD monitors are generally less hazardous, though they still benefit from recycling, they are not as critical as CRTs.
B
CRT monitors
This is correct because CRT monitors contain leaded glass and other hazardous materials that require special handling to prevent environmental contamination.
C
Keyboard and mouse
Why wrong: This is incorrect because keyboards and mice are typically non-hazardous and can be disposed of in regular e-waste streams without special precautions.
D
Ethernet cables
Why wrong: This is incorrect because Ethernet cables are copper-based and recyclable, but they do not contain hazardous materials that require separate handling.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
CRT monitors
CRT monitors contain leaded glass in the cathode ray tube and significant amounts of lead in the solder and phosphor coating, making them hazardous electronic waste that must be handled separately under regulations like the EPA's RCRA and the EU's WEEE Directive. Unlike LCDs, which may contain mercury in backlights but are often managed differently, CRTs require specialized recycling to prevent lead leaching into groundwater.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
LCD monitors
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because LCD monitors are generally less hazardous, though they still benefit from recycling, they are not as critical as CRTs.
✓
CRT monitors
Why this is correct
This is correct because CRT monitors contain leaded glass and other hazardous materials that require special handling to prevent environmental contamination.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Keyboard and mouse
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because keyboards and mice are typically non-hazardous and can be disposed of in regular e-waste streams without special precautions.
✗
Ethernet cables
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because Ethernet cables are copper-based and recyclable, but they do not contain hazardous materials that require separate handling.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between CRT and LCD monitors, trapping candidates who assume all monitors are equally hazardous, when in fact CRTs are uniquely regulated due to lead content while LCDs are generally treated as standard e-waste unless mercury backlights are present.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CRT monitors use a vacuum tube with an electron gun that fires electrons at a phosphor-coated screen; the glass envelope contains 20-30% lead oxide by weight to block X-ray emissions, and the phosphor coating often includes cadmium and rare earth metals. In real-world recycling, CRTs must be crushed in dedicated facilities to separate leaded glass from funnel glass, while the electron gun and yoke are removed for copper recovery—a process that is both costly and strictly regulated under the Basel Convention for transboundary movement of hazardous waste.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Environmental Awareness and Impact — This question tests Environmental Awareness and Impact — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: CRT monitors — CRT monitors contain leaded glass in the cathode ray tube and significant amounts of lead in the solder and phosphor coating, making them hazardous electronic waste that must be handled separately under regulations like the EPA's RCRA and the EU's WEEE Directive. Unlike LCDs, which may contain mercury in backlights but are often managed differently, CRTs require specialized recycling to prevent lead leaching into groundwater.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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