If you are planning to buy a brand new television in time for the digital switchover don’t forget you can take your old set to your local Household Recycling Centre.

The switchover to digital television in the West TV region, which includes many parts of Gloucestershire, will happen in two stages on March 24th and April 7th.

You can convert or upgrade your existing television to receive digital signals, either by getting a digital set top box (Freeview), a digital ready television or satellite or cable.

However, if you plan to buy a brand new television, then your old set can be taken to any of the five county council’s Household Recycling Centres.

About 96 per cent of a relatively modern TV can be recycled.

Cllr Stan Waddington, cabinet member for environment at Gloucestershire County Council said: “At present we recycle 1,200 analogue television sets each month in the county.

“Judging from what has happened in other parts of the country, we expect to receive more TV’s at our Household Recycling Centres during the digital switch over.

“North Devon’s Household Recycling Centres saw a 30 per cent increase, after the analogue channels were switched off in their area.

“Not far off 100 per cent of a typical television can be recycled – which is very positive.

“Ideally if old TVs can be reused though, that would be even better.”

Digital UK is the organisation leading switchover to digital television across the West region.

Gloucester and Cheltenham will switch to digital in 2011.

The old analogue TV signal will be switched off and people will need to convert or upgrade their television to receive digital signals, either by getting a digital set top box (Freeview), a digital ready television or satellite or cable.

To find out exactly when you switch over to digital use the postcode checker on www.digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456 505050.