# Getting rid of old computer equipment **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281 "2010-10-25T14:28:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/1 "2010-10-25T14:28:26Z")
We have an old desktop computer (bought used in 2002). We have an old scanner (bought new in 1998). Have tried to freecycle the scanner and had no luck. The computer, we’d obviously need to wipe the hard drive (if it even boots). We’d be happy enough to just trash it, but I’m not sure where we can do so safely given all the reclaimable materials and hazmats in side. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/2 "2010-10-25T14:51:25Z")
Look for local schools/community groups doing an e-waste recycling drive. They collect the equipment and sell the lot to a recycler. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/3 "2010-10-25T14:56:09Z")
Your county or municipality might also have a recycling station - Hennepin county does, and every so often has a free weekend or such to collect old electronic equipment. Otherwise, I believe they charge some sort of nominal fee when you bring in your old stuff. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/4 "2010-10-25T15:09:11Z")
i volunteered for organizations that collect computers, refurbish them and donate to schools for use. some organizations also provide to individuals. my county does a recycling for a small fee with one or two free times per year. some stores will also recycle for you, if there is a fee then you might get that back as store credit. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/5 "2010-10-25T15:09:56Z")
See if your local Best Buy will accept the stuff. I am pretty sure they all do it now. All you have to do is physically remove the hard drive from the computer, and they’ll take it (as well as the scanner). ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/6 "2010-10-25T15:37:20Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > See if your local Best Buy will accept the stuff. I am pretty sure they all do it now. All you have to do is physically remove the hard drive from the computer, and they’ll take it (as well as the scanner). Oooh thanks - that may be the way we go (there’s a BB not too far from us). We can certainly manage to do a hard-drive-ectomy ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/7 "2010-10-25T16:47:11Z")
Best Buy requires you to buy a $10 gift card (nonexpiring, nondepreciating) for each item recycled. you should be able to get takers for a computer (with or without HD) that age on the give away lists, there are a handful of different groups running lists. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/8 "2010-10-25T18:15:26Z")
Try the Free Stuff section on Craigslist if you haven’t already. I usually find it more popular than Freecycle. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/9 "2010-10-25T18:46:03Z")
This was recommended by a couple of us in another thread, but if you’re going to give your computer away with the hard drive in it, you should delete all the data. One of the best utilities for doing this is [DBAN](http://www.dban.org/). ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-rid-of-old-computer-equipment/558281/10 "2010-10-25T21:21:59Z")
My county has a dropoff for recycling electronics. They’re open two days a week and you just drive up. They’ll even unload it for you. Nice men in orange jumpsuits. 😃 They are prisoners, but they’re polite and supervised. StG