Recycling old computers

[gamecock43]

What do ya'll do with your old computers that no longer work? I have 2 that I would like to recycle.

[PrincessPerky]

donate em to good will

if anything is working a refurb person will buy them..if not someone who makes stuff out of them will.

or goodwill wil recycle them.

[Like2Plan]

If it is a fairly new computer, we give to a local charity which will remove the hard drive (and give it back to us) and refurbish the computer for someone else to use.

If it is really old, we take it to Best Buy. They will take 2 items for recycle per household per day.

[kork13]

I sold my laptop through costco, they have an outsourced computer recycling service. Plus, they paid me a nominal price for it. Not a whole lot ($88), but it's enough to buy a few books or something. Heck, it was more than I'd have gotten had I pursued my original idea--throwing it off of a 50-foot wall back at my college. Selling it was less fun though....

[MonkeyMama]

Originally Posted by Like2Plan

If it is a fairly new computer, we give to a local charity which will remove the hard drive (and give it back to us) and refurbish the computer for someone else to use.

If it is really old, we take it to Best Buy. They will take 2 items for recycle per household per day.

Agreed! Love the Best Buy recycling. We would have donated our computers if anyone would have wanted them. They were OLD and Best Buy took them though. They take about anything electronic. I believe you have to remove the hard drive though - they won't take it. (Or maybe they can remove it for you...)

[SacredFaerie]

Buy and Sell Electronics, Sell Cell Phone, Recycle Electronics - gazelle.com

Ebay it?

[gamecock43]

I'm just going to best buy today with them. That will be easiest. I don't know whats wrong with either one other than they are old and would rather I was just rid of them.

[feh]

For those of you who are concerned about how computers (and other electronics) are actually recycled, you may want to find a local company that guarantees they are recycled responsibly. Most of the e-waste that is "recycled" in the US actually ends up in China, and creates an environmental debacle.

Since Best Buy doesn't charge for this service, I assume that's what happens if you take stuff to them. To have things properly disposed of, it actually costs you a few bucks.

There's a link to a recent 60 Minutes story on this subject on this page.

[Multima$tery]

Another good idea would be to donate them to school children who need them and can't afford them. I believe there's a program set-up for this but I don't know the name.

[spacecadet610]

If getting rid of it, be sure to securely delete your hard drives. You don't want anyone getting your personal info

[GrimJack]

You can remove the hard drive and use it in your new system by way of cheap USB kits from Frye's - otherwise take a hammer to it before sending it off to a place found here.

[chewie8himup]

Have you ever heard of "Freecycle.org"? This is an online posting where you can post ANYTHING you don't want anymore. The site is set up by county. I know several areas where people will take your old computer from you, and use parts from it to build a computer for people in need.

It's worth looking into to see if there is someone in your area who does that.

Happy recycling!

[Gruntina]

Usually there are special days where a team of people take in electronics for recycling at no cost. You find them in the mall's parking lot, some corporate business' parking lot and the like. I see them frequently in the summer time. I wish I knew what they were called so I can look them up to know the dates. Last year I had a monitor and a TV that I needed to get rid of. What I did was put them in the back of my vehicle in hope I would spot a recycle team. About 3 weeks later I did, I just drove up and they took it out of the back without the needs for me to get out of the vehicle.

I do live in Silicon Valley so I am not sure if this type of thing is more abundant in my area or not.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by PrincessPerky

donate em to good will

if anything is working a refurb person will buy them..if not someone who makes stuff out of them will.

or goodwill wil recycle them.

A few years ago I offered my (then) 2-year old computer monitor to Goodwill. They acted as though they were doing me a favor by accepting it. This was a bulky CRT model which I had trouble lifiting and removing from the trunk of my car at the GW receiving dock. No one there lifted a finger to help me carry it. And speaking of finger, I cut my hand in setting down the monitor on the counter. Nobody so much as offered me a band-aid.

I didn't expect GW to fall over themselves thanking me for my donation, but a little consideration would have been nice. So if you're giving away something of value, do so to someone or to an institution that will at least appreciate the gesture.

[freesamples]

For me, nothing would be best for old computers except..Recycling them!