In California it's been illegal for over a decade to throw away any electronics: all must be recycled. The concern was that such electronics were shipped to Asia and then stripped by peasants, who were exposed to dangerous chemicals.
The state created a program, funded by an $8 fee on all new TVs, to pay local companies ~20 cents-per-pound to send CRTs to certified-responsible local recyclers. However, to prevent a flood of CRTs from out-of-staters, the in-state source must be strictly documented. So, Goodwills and other thrift stores have become eager to receive such donations, although with the demise of CRTs that business's life-cycle is ending. Additionally, recyclers hold periodic free recycling roundups in every community where residents drop off their electronics.
I’ve a Blue Healer....smarter than the whole state of California.
Ummm I live in California. A few years ago inreplaced the old 28 inch tv in our living room and set it out in the garage with some other stuff for Goodwill. When they came they refused to take it. Just said they don’t take them anymore.