Author Topic: Best way to recycle old computer ... (Read 2501 times)

Chester32141 · « **on:** January 20, 2016, 11:56:02 AM »

I have several old desktops that need to be recycled ... what's the best way to go about it ...

Thanks ...

Brad Johnson · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:57:52 AM »

Search for recycling centers in your area. Most will take electronics.

Brad

K Frame · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:58:02 AM »

Get in touch with your county or city to see if they have electronics recycling.

vaskidmark · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:59:22 AM »

Local landfill. Usually a place where they collect old computers ans eventually sell them to scrappers with the proceeds going into the locality general fund.

stay safe.

Ben · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:03:42 PM »

A lot of cities, counties, and landfills have free recycling or "dump on us" days that include hazmat and electronics.

Depending on their condition, you might also consider giving them to a local charity. Just make sure you properly wipe the hard drives first with something like Boot and Nuke. My general modus operandi with old computers for the last few years has been to wipe the drive, stick a Linux flavor on them, and drop them off at the Salvation Army.

Actually make sure you wipe and/or physically destroy the drives before you send them to the dump as well, if you go that route.

K Frame · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:22:12 PM »

Of course, you could just cut out the middle man and take it to Bangladesh to have it recycled...

wmenorr67 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:26:13 PM »

Just make sure you burn the floppys.

Scout26 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2016, 12:43:32 PM »

Quote from: wmenorr67 on January 20, 2016, 12:26:13 PM

Just make sure you burn the floppys.

Damn it. Beat me to it...

AJ Dual · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:03:12 PM »

Quote from: Mike Irwin on January 20, 2016, 12:22:12 PM

Of course, you could just cut out the middle man and take it to Bangladesh to have it recycled...

Unless it's obnoxiously large, I just bag it, disguised within some other trash. Otherwise I've got no idea what's happening to it, or if possibly leaving it largely intact in a landfill here in the U.S. is actually "better".

BobR · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:46:36 PM »

Take it to Goodwill, they usually collect them for recycling.

bob

zxcvbob · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:50:35 PM »

Best Buy. They recycle them for free. (also cathode ray tee-vees up 30-something inches)

Pull the hard drive out first. Either keep it in a desk drawer for the next 20 years just because, or take it apart and get the really cool magnets out.

BobR · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2016, 03:58:56 PM »

Quote from: zxcvbob on January 20, 2016, 03:50:35 PM

Pull the hard drive out first. Either keep it in a desk drawer for the next 20 years just because, or take it apart and get the really cool magnets out.

And the platters can be used for something....maybe emergency signaling mirrors. Put one in each car.

bob

TechMan · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2016, 04:46:41 PM »

Quote from: zxcvbob on January 20, 2016, 03:50:35 PM

Best Buy. They recycle them for free. (also cathode ray tee-vees up 30-something inches)

Pull the hard drive out first. Either keep it in a desk drawer for the next 20 years just because, or take it apart and get the really cool magnets out.

The above or Staples: http://www.staples.com/sbd/cre/marketing/easy-on-the-planet/recycling-and-eco-services.html

KD5NRH · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2016, 04:51:31 PM »

How old is old? I used to dumpster dive machines that were less than two years old, fix them up and either use them as various servers (don't need a fast CPU in a fileserver, just as many bays and IDE or SCSI channels as possible) or sell them for $20-50. For years, I had an old Optiplex running Linux as my fileserver (CDROM with a 4-disc changer, plus two large-at-the-time HDDs) and dialup box. (Everything else could pretend it had real full time internet as long as catfish could stall until it made the 28.8k connection.)

Hawkmoon · « **Reply #14 on:** January 20, 2016, 08:04:36 PM »

Quote from: KD5NRH on January 20, 2016, 04:51:31 PM

How old is old?

And what's your idea of "recycling"?

I have generally wiped my hard drive, reinstalled an operating system and a few common apps (like Microsoft Office), and then donated the computer to a nearby school or church, where it can be passed on to some kid who needs a computer for school work but who can't afford to buy one.

I used to put them in a middle school library, but my friend the librarian retired, and her successor wasn't interested. I'll still look toward churches, but it's getting difficult because too may of them will happily give a computer to an illegal (or child of an illegal), and I refuse to enable illegals in any way.

KD5NRH · « **Reply #15 on:** January 20, 2016, 08:11:53 PM »

Quote from: Hawkmoon on January 20, 2016, 08:04:36 PM

I'll still look toward churches, but it's getting difficult because too may of them will happily give a computer to an illegal (or child of an illegal), and I refuse to enable illegals in any way.

Can't you hack the OS so it will never allow any language but English to be selected?

Andiron · « **Reply #16 on:** January 20, 2016, 09:28:09 PM »

https://youtu.be/AuR26l0RaW8

Short of nuking it from orbit...

K Frame · « **Reply #17 on:** January 20, 2016, 09:36:54 PM »

Did not know that about Staples. I have one pretty close to the house. I need to load up a couple of old computers and monitors.

MechAg94 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 20, 2016, 10:53:35 PM »

Don't forget to get the refrigerator magnets out of the hard drive.

HankB · « **Reply #19 on:** January 20, 2016, 10:58:37 PM »

Quote from: Chester32141 on January 20, 2016, 11:56:02 AM

I have several old desktops that need to be recycled ... what's the best way to go about it ...

Thanks ...

http://dilbert.com/strip/1998-04-09

AJ Dual · « **Reply #20 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:16:36 PM »

Quote from: MechAg94 on January 20, 2016, 10:53:35 PM

Don't forget to get the refrigerator magnets out of the hard drive.

Screw that... get one of these. http://www.magnet4less.com/product_info.php?cPath=5&products_id=68

And stick a $20 bill under it on the breakroom fridge at work.

Hawkmoon · « **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2016, 11:30:59 PM »

Quote from: KD5NRH on January 20, 2016, 08:11:53 PM

Can't you hack the OS so it will never allow any language but English to be selected?

That's not the point. I don't care if a legal immigrant chooses to use his/her native language in his/her own home. I just don't care to contribute in any way to greasing the skids for people who are in this country illegally -- and for me, that includes so-called "anchor babies."

HeroHog · « **Reply #22 on:** January 21, 2016, 12:22:59 AM »

I made some 1" fridge magnets for my MC Club and used Rare Earth Neodymium magnets. They will hold a motorcycle magazine to a fridge with no problem! Getting one off the fridge without something to pry it off with is almost impossible!

KD5NRH · « **Reply #23 on:** January 21, 2016, 12:51:22 PM »

Quote from: AJ Dual on January 20, 2016, 11:16:36 PM

Screw that... get one of these. http://www.magnet4less.com/product_info.php?cPath=5&products_id=68

The UPS guy still remembers having to pry the last box of magnets I ordered off of his dolly. That thing would probably be stuck to every other package in the truck containing anything ferrous.

Scout26 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 21, 2016, 01:04:17 PM »

Quote from: AJ Dual on January 20, 2016, 11:16:36 PM

Screw that... get one of these. http://www.magnet4less.com/product_info.php?cPath=5&products_id=68

And stick a $20 bill under it on the breakroom fridge at work.

Put one of those fake $20 bill Chick tracts underneath. Yes, I'm a cruel, sick bastage...

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Author Topic: Best way to recycle old computer ... (Read 2501 times)