That older computer might have some life left in it. Dropping it off at a nonprofit charity like Giving Center, or even a library may or may or may not be the best way to pass it on. In this article, you will learn about your computer and electronic equipment donation options as well as the environment-friendly disposal options for your older computers.
As we continue to find reasons to upgrade our computers, the ever-growing problem of how to safely get rid of used equipment continues to grow. There are lots of reasons to donate or recycle your used equipment.
Hardware Donation and Recycling
The Case for Donating
- 75% of the fossil fuels and energy that is used by a computer are actually consumed during the manufacturing process. Elongating the computer’s lifespan ultimately means a larger return on that environmental cost.
- Every computer that is dumped into landfills is a missed opportunity to give the gift of technology and tools to individuals and organizations across the digital divide.
- Donating computers is usually most suitable for relatively newer and repairable equipment.
The Case for End-of-Life Recycling
- When you toss our a 5-pound laptop, you are also discarding the nearly 20,000 pounds of raw materials it took to build it.
- If a computer cannot be reused, recycling will ensure that the valuable raw materials are able to be recovered from old computers and that the leftover waste is discarded in an environmentally sound fashion.
- Every PC or mobile phone contains over half of the periodic table. More modern electronics recycling facilities are able to recover most of these materials.
- End-of-life recycling is most suitable for very old or broken equipment.
The latest statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that just over 40% of computers and other types of electronic devices are being regularly recycled in the United States.
Hardware Donation Tips
Here are a few simple tips for forwarding your used but still useful equipment.
1. Find Out If Your Old Computer Can Be Reused
If your computer happens to be less than five years old, chances are good that it can still be put to good use by someone in need. Normally, the lifespan of a computer is around seven to eight years. Extending your computer’s life through donation provides the highest environmental benefit of all the disposal alternatives. Additionally, someone in need may still be able to use your computer even if it is older than five years depending on the specs of your particular model and brand.
2. Think About Donating Equipment to a Refurbisher (Not a Local Nonprofit or Library)
You might be tempted to donate equipment directly to a favorite local school or charity. However, some organizations have specific technology needs. If your donated computer is not a good fit for charity, a refurbisher may be better equipped to repair and even upgrade older computers. They can ensure that older equipment works well and that any e-waste is disposed of properly. They may also pass on ready-to-use computers and equipment to those who are in need of it, often at little cost to the recipient.
3. Recycle Older and Broken Hardware
Any computers or equipment that is not in working condition or is considerably older than five years should be responsibly destroyed. A computer recycler business or organization may be able to salvage useful parts before breaking down whatever is leftover. They are able to safely remove hazardous materials in the process. Some recyclers will charge a fee in order to take your old computer equipment, especially monitors.
4. Choose a Responsible Recycler
You have probably seen or heard horror stories about the dangers of irresponsible computer and electronic recycling. There are set certification programs for recyclers that can help you feel better about the recycler you choose.
The Responsible Recycling Practices (R2) and the e-Stewards® programs require all recyclers to prove that they can meet very specific standards for safe and responsible computer and electronics recycling. These standards include worker health, environmental safety, and data security.
5. Contact the Refurbisher or Recycler Before Donating
Call the charity/organization or check on its website to make sure that it is able to accept the type of computer you plan to donate. A few refurbishers, for example, will refuse equipment with anything older than a Core 2 Duo. There are a lot of recycling and refurbishing organizations that also have specific locations where your equipment can be donated, while others have certain delivery instructions they need donors to follow.
7. If You Decide To Clear Your Computer of Personal Information Yourself, Use Disk-Cleaning Software
The best way to ensure you are protecting yourself and your personal information is to utilize a disk-cleaning tool that will wipe all the data on the hard drive. “Personal information” can be included in the web browser’s cache, cookies, and history; email contacts and messages; documents; anything in the recycle or trash folder.
Here are some examples of recommended disk-cleaning utilities:
Free Windows Disk-Cleaning Software
Mobile Device Data Erasure
Commercial Windows Disk-Cleaning Software
Macintosh Disk-Cleaning Software
- Disk Utility (comes with the Mac OS X and can be found in the Utilites folder)
- WipeDrive for Mac
8. Remember To Keep a Record of What You Donated
Keep the upcoming tax season in mind— you may be eligible for a deduction if you donate to a nonprofit charity, refurbisher or recycler. Giving Center is an IRS certified nonprofit that is able to accept most computer and electronic donations, and will also provide you with a receipt of donation as well as earn you a charitable tax deduction. Most schools or nonprofit refurbishers and recyclers can also provide a tax receipt upon request. Business donors and individuals are able to deduct the current market value of their computer or electronic equipment.
Additional Information on Donating With Giving Center
- Visit GivingCenter.org for more information on donating or to ask a question about there computer donation program.
- If you are interested in donating your personal or office computers, fill out the online donor contact form.
