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How to Safely Get Rid of an Old Computer
HOW TO 
Tags: Old Computer, Disposing of Computer, Computers
Still have that old 1980s Kaypro in your back closet? Maybe it is time to get ride of it.
| 1. | Check your local phone book - there are recycling facilities in several cities. Websites such as those listed below may also have valuable information. These organizations donate computers or computer parts to educational institutions. There are similar websites all over the Internet. |
| 2. | Attempt to sell your computer on eBay or Craigslist.org. You might be surprised to discover that someone out there will actually pay for your old bucket of bits. |
| 3. | Ask around to see if any of your friends are looking for an older computer. Some tech-savvy people use extra computers for print servers or e-mail stations. |
| 4. | Give it to your parents or grandparents and teach them how to use email and surf the web. Old, slow computers work well at these basic tasks. |
| 5. | Donate it to a local school or charity. A database of charities looking for old computers is available at Share the Technology (link provided below). |
| 6. | Consider donating it to the nonprofit Computer Recycling Center (also listed below). They accept all computers, network equipment, and telephones (whether they are working or not). In addition, they will provide you with a receipt of your donation for a tax deduction. |
| 7. | Turn your old computer over to the manufacturer when you buy a new one. Companies such as Dell and HP will now recycle your old computer for free when you buy a new one from them. |
| 8. | Pay for a profit recycling firm to have your PC taken off your hands and recycled responsibly. |
| 9. | Put a sign on your computer saying "Free old computer - good for parts or case," and leave it out front on a dry afternoon, or offer it on Gigoit.com or Freecycle.org. |
| 10. | If it's from 70`s or 80`s, consider donating it to an old computer museum. |
| 11. | Keep the old computer around as a backup. |
| 12. | If you are disposing of a number of similarly cased computers, you might consider being creative and using them as oversize building blocks. The plastic or metal cases can be connected with Superglue and they can be painted in a bright manner. You can build a small decorative wall, or perhaps a playhouse for the kids in your own backyard. |
| 13. | You can add an extra hard-drive or 2 (depending on the size of the old one) and install a basic operating system--Linux is a good choice--and setup a small file server for your house. |
| 14. | Use it for any of the innumerable projects found here |
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