Computers and Technology

Are you interested in a computer recycle program, but you are unsure how to go about it or where to look? Here are some basic guidelines that will help you to make good decisions about donating your computer and finding a computer recycle plan to fit your needs.

1. Make sure that your computer recycle beneficiary is legitimate. Not only are there unethical individuals and computer recycle companies who will take your computer and sell it or its parts for profit, but they may also try to steal your information from your computer for illegal use. Check with the Better Business Bureau, just in case.

2. The costliness of disposing old computer parts that need to be refurbished or replaced (also called e-waste) may be high, so some recycle programs may charge a fee to take your computer. This fee may be to "wipe clean" your computer's hard drive, etc. Make sure your fees do not overlap with a simple task you can undertake on your own.

3. If you do want to "wipe clean" your computer yourself before you recycle, there are a number of products available on the market to assist you in the process.

4. Ask the computer recycle program if they want you to leave any basic components or programs (word perfect or other business software pre-installed). There are ways to computer recycle without leaving any personally identifying information on the computer. By doing this before you computer recycle, you may save money in the long run!

5. Nothing you are donating to the computer recycle program should be more than five years old. This is ancient in computer recycle time!

6. Check with different organizations, such as schools and libraries, before taking your computer to donate it. Oftentimes, such organizations do not take donations directly.

7. There are online and local organizations that take computers directly, then refurbish them and redistribute them to others in need. Check around to find out what is in your area.

8. You can get a tax deduction for donating a computer to a computer recycle program. For example, a computer that you bought for $1,000, but that is now worth $400, if you donate it, you can deduct $400 off of your taxes. Get receipts and keep records.

9. When you participate in a computer recycle program, you are helping someone in need.

10. When you participate in such programs, you are helping to preserve and protect the environment for future generations!