Recycling old computers is important. Contact the manufacturer for discounts on new components or donate to a charity, school, friend, or local recycling center. Laptops can also be recycled.
Rather than throwing your old computer in the trash, the greener thing to do is to recycle the components. There are several ways to do this. Here are some tips on how to recycle a computer and keep your system from ending up in a landfill.
One of the first points to consider when looking to recycle a computer is to contact the manufacturer of the drive. It’s not uncommon for manufacturers to offer discounts on new components if you’re willing to return your old system. Eventually, the manufacturer can either disassemble the components, possibly reuse at least some of them, or even refurbish the unit and resell it with a limited warranty and a low price.
You may also want to consider donating your old system to a charity. This is a great way to recycle a computer monitor, tower or other component. The charity may be able to use the system in an office environment or at least list it for sale in a charity-sponsored thrift store. In any case, your old system continues to be an asset to someone and does not end up in the trash just yet.
You can also recycle a computer by donating it to a local school system. Many public and private schools operate on limited budgets. Giving away your old computer can help stretch that budget while still affording you a nice tax write-off.
There is also the possibility that you know someone who could use your old but still usable system. In that case, you can recycle a computer by giving it to someone who needs a computer but is unable to get one themselves for some reason. Check with friends and family or ask around at your local house of worship. There’s a good chance someone would be happy to take the old system off your hands and appreciate your generosity.
Your local recycling center can also provide some tips on how and where to recycle a computer. In fact, they may be able to arrange for the drive to be transported to a center that focuses on recycling computer components for various purposes. As with some of the other options, you can usually get credit for a charitable donation to use with your taxes.
Don’t forget that in addition to old desktop drives, you can also recycle laptops. Once you know how to recycle a computer, there’s a good chance there are several options available in your area, making it easy to pass the drive on to someone who can use the system and prevent it from adding even more clutter to our world.
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