Cool! Glad you got some interesting sets. I was given one of those Seventeeners with the Predicta tube and it makes quite a nice picture after repairing the yoke supports. I tested the CRT and it has almost-new emission and passed the lifetime test with flying colors. Neat sets.
Regarding the disposal of old tv's, well I just place them on the curb too. Read that they are then incinerated near Newark NJ though, so that is a bit unsettling...Nevertheless I still rest assured that the planet'll be fine; after seeing just how strong tropical storms and twisters can be.