August 2006

Disposing of Old Equipment

Keeping up with the Joneses, when it comes to computers, can be a complicated thing especially when your kids are asking to upgrade their computers because their friends have it. On the other hand, maybe you’re always looking for the newest, latest, and greatest when it comes to hardware.

You are not alone. Many people purchase and upgrade their computers only to have old computer equipment languishing in their offices and basements. Landfill sites are the premature destination for the computer wasteland when many of the parts can be recycled and certain metals extracted from the equipment. With spring in the air, maybe it’s time to do some spring-cleaning. One of the best ways to recycle your old computer is to donate it to your local education system. With under funded schools looking to make ends meet, what better way to help the future of tomorrow by giving them your used equipment. Many Windows software products run in a legacy type manner where current software programs are very similar to their previous versions. From a hardware perspective, the components of the architecture are similar. All have motherboards, expansion slots, processors, memory, hard drives, and fans. High schools and colleges might be able to use your hardware to teach technical aspects of the Information Technology sector. If you decide to go this route, be sure to remove all business and personal related matter. Remember, your office is working under the rules of the Privacy Act so please remove or delete everything first. In addition, if you are giving away your home computer, make sure it doesn’t contain personal and financial information on you or your loved ones. You don’t want that falling into the wrong hands especially to young, inquisitive, mischievous minds. For those of you who are more advanced, formatting the hard drive and then reloading accompanying software might be a better idea. Be sure to give them all operating, program disks and documentation in case they have to uninstall and re-install operating systems, drivers, or software.

If your equipment is of a vintage state, (where it can only be used as a doorstop), some municipalities have a recycling depot program where they have a depot for old electronic equipment. Even if you are dumping your equipment, be sure to format or uninstall all personal information. Please check with your local municipality for available recycling programs. Many monitors and television sets contain lead, which are harmful to the environment, so it’s best to dispose of it this way. Some of the larger business retailers also have programs to recycle old telephones and ink cartridges. If you really want to recycle, in the past Hewlett Packard has occasional programs where they will recycle old printers, whether manufactured by them or not, at a cost, if you ship it to them.

Recycling your old equipment is good for young minds and the environment. It will also help you clean up your office or basement.

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