Friday marks a new era in television viewing for the entire country, as analog broadcasts will end and televisions with antennas must be upgraded to receive digital broadcasts.

As of June 12, Congress has mandated that all television stations broadcast digitally, which means viewers using older televisions will need a converter box to keep receiving signals if they are not connected to cable or satellite. As a result, many viewers have to decide whether to purchase a converter box or whether to discard the set and purchase a new one.

"The best option environmentally is to purchase a converter box," said Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Commissioner Thomas Easterly. "But if you do plan to discard a television instead, we strongly encourage you to take it to a reuse or recycling facility."

Recycling unwanted televisions helps keep toxic materials out of the waste stream and provides the opportunity to recover valuable materials such as circuit boards, metal wiring, leaded glass and plastics.

Visit www.recycle.IN.gov to find an electronics reuse/recycling facility near you. To learn more environmentally-friendly tips, visit www.HoosiersCare.IN.gov. For more information on the digital TV transition, visit the Federal Communications Commission's Web site at www.dtv.gov.