# How do I properly dispose of old computer equipment? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 24, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436 "2005-08-24T15:55:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/1 "2005-08-24T15:55:36Z")
I’v got some old computers, monitors and printers taking up a good amount of space in my basement. I’m guessing that I’m not allowed to simply throw them out with the garbage. So, how do I get rid of this stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/2 "2005-08-24T15:58:40Z")
Do they still work? A local school might be happy to take them off your hands. In high school, I had a computer engineering course where we’d take apart old computers to learn about them. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/3 "2005-08-24T16:06:18Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Do they still work? A local school might be happy to take them off your hands. In high school, I had a computer engineering course where we’d take apart old computers to learn about them. Some of the stuff probably still works. But most of it is probably too old to help kids. I know that the schools in my area are quite modernized in terms of computer equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/4 "2005-08-24T16:07:32Z")
Check with your local government. LA County has a drop off center, and a couple times a year they do a toxic round up. Also, try [collectivegood.com](http://collectivegood.com) or any of the computer websites (Dell recycles). ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/5 "2005-08-24T16:11:07Z")
Your local Goodwill will take everything but the actual computers themselves. Monitors, printers, and - wait - not peripherals. No keyboards or mice. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/6 "2005-08-24T16:14:34Z")
There are a lot of locally run places that will recycle old computers, too. And they’ll take everything. If you were in my neck of the woods I’d tell you who to go to, but other than that, my suggestion is to call up the local computer shops, and ask them who’s recycling old computers and computer equipment for schools and such. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/7 "2005-08-24T16:20:49Z")
This same question occurred to me when I finally had to get rid of the Frankenstein machine last April - it, or at least, one component of it (the hard drive) had been with me since 1996, whne I started college. It had worked okay up till April, when I booted it and discovered it was having major issues - locking on boots, error messages about the BIOS being corrupt… and , I suspect, a dead CMOS battery. I pondered disposal options, but was ultimately persuaded to stick it in a bag and put it out for the garbage guys. They took it… ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/8 "2005-08-24T17:07:29Z")
Bonfire. Or even better, have you ever seen that scene in Office Space? ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/9 "2005-08-24T17:10:57Z")
try [www.freecycle.org](http://www.freecycle.org) - chances are someone will want it. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/10 "2005-08-24T19:02:11Z")
I had an old Pentium 200 machine sitting around that I was considering dumping. I decided to give Linux a whirl: the machine now has two good-sized hard drives in it and is performing the duties of a file server on my home network, running Samba. Now every machine can get at the MP3s. Maybe this isn´t your bag, but I was very pleased with the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/11 "2005-08-24T19:14:24Z")
The State of Wisconsin accepts old computer equipment, working or not, for the Department of Corrections. The inmates either fix and donate them, or dismantle them for recycling and disposal. Perhaps there’s a similar program in your area. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/12 "2005-08-24T19:41:31Z")
If you’ve got a St Vincent de Paul nearby, check with them. They seem to be pretty good at taking computer stuff. Also, [HP](http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/recycle/index.html) has a program where they’ll take dang near any chunk of hardware off your hands. There is a modest cost of $13-34 per item, but that includes shipping. You just need to box it up yourself. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/13 "2005-08-25T01:11:12Z")
Read about [Retrobox](http://www.retrobox.com/rbwww/home/) a few months ago in Fortune Small Business. It sounds like a very cool business model, as well as being good for the environment. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-properly-dispose-of-old-computer-equipment/318436/14 "2005-08-25T13:51:15Z")
Put a price tag of $50.00 on it and advertise it in Henrico County?