If Santa brought you a new computer this year, you may be wondering what to do with your old one. After the excitement of transferring the old data wears off, your old computer may start to look like a giant dusty paperweight. Whatever you do, don’t throw your old computer into the landfill. Electronic waste is becoming a real problem. Computers are filled with nasty noxious things that we don’t want rotting in the ground.
If you shouldn’t just chuck it, what can you do with your old box? Although your old computer may not be as useful to you as it once was, there are many people who could use it. To safely get rid of your computer, you can take the donation or the recycling route. If you want to share the joy of technology with other people, check out the National Cristina Foundation (http://www.cristina.org) web site. Their mission is to “provide computer technology and solutions to give people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity, through training, to lead more independent and productive lives.” Basically, they match up old computers with organizations that need them. The Share Technology site has a similar goal with more of a self-serve approach. It has a database you can search to find non-profit organizations looking for donations. Or you can list your computer and see if any non-profit out there wants it.
If you aren’t looking for a tax write-off, you also can check out the notion of Freecycling. The Freecycle.org site is filled with links to various local groups that give and get stuff for free. You basically let the folks in your local Freecycle group know you have something available and people respond if they are interested. (If you prefer, you also can specify that it go to a non-profit organization.)
If your computer is really old and no one is interested in it as a donation, you can recycle it. When you bought your new computer, if it was an HP, Dell, or Apple, you may be able to recycle your old one through the company. Other computer companies offer similar programs. In most cases, the company will recycle the computer for free if it’s one of their brand, but will charge if it’s not (check the company web site for details).
Other electronic recyclers exist too. The Electronics Recycling site (http://www.electronicsrecycling.net) has a lot of information and links to resources. A Google search for your state or area and “computer recycling” can offer many options as well. For example, a Spokane-based company called Recycletechs (http://www.recycletechs.com) specializes in disposing and recycling old computer and office equipment. They do not get rid of computer equipment by dumping it outside of the US and they certify that your data will be securely removed.
Secure data removal is important no matter how you decide to dispose of your machine. Formatting your drive does not completely remove data. Many free downloadable tools exist to completely wipe and/or overwrite data from your hard drive. Identity theft is a risk; you don’t want someone else to accidentally get your personal information off your old computer.