DENVER -- With the upcoming switch to digital television, the Colorado Department of Public Health is concerned that more and more TVs will end up in our landfills.

While businesses are required to recycle electronics like TVs and computers, the general public is not. People can throw their old TVs in a landfill for free or pay a small price to have them recycled.

When consumers choose the cheaper option, the state health department closely monitors for contamination. The old tube-style TVs can contain eight to 10 pounds of lead.

State health officials said landfills are routinely tested to make sure heavy metals stay out of the soil and groundwater.

"We don't have any landfills in Colorado where heavy metals that relate back to electronic equipment [are] an issue that's causing problems," said Gary Baughman, director of the state's Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division.

The cost of recycling depends on the size of your TV, but the average cost is $15 to $25. Despite the cost, local recyclers say their volume is up 400 percent in just the last four months.