Environment Minister Amy Adams said the TV TakeBack programme aimed to have televisions recycled, rather than dumped in landfill.
Televisions contained lead and mercury, which could be harmful if released into soils and waterways, ''so they should not be dumped in landfills.''
With a government subsidy, it would cost no more than $5 to recycle a television, Ms Adams said.
More than 20,000 televisions were collected for recycling in Hawkes Bay and the West Coast when the TV TakeBack programme started in the regions in October, she said.
The unwanted televisions were taken to national facilities to be dismantled so components could be recycled and materials put to use elsewhere, she said.
''Glass from a television screen can be transformed into bunker sand for golf courses, or used in roading aggregate.''
The programme also aimed to improve the recycling infrastructure and investigate options for the long-term management of electronic waste, Ms Adams said.
Information on the drop-off sites for unwanted televisions could be found at http://www.tvtakeback.govt.nz/where-can-i-recycle, she said.
Smiths City Andersons Bay manager Vick Veera (35) said the Dunedin store was a drop-off point for the programme.
Each unwanted set would cost the owner $5 to recycle, he said.
The televisions would be transported to Timaru for dismantling, so some components, such as copper and aluminium, could be collected and recycled.
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