| Are you interested in a computer recycle | | | | programs (word perfect or other business |
| program, but you are unsure how to go about it | | | | software pre-installed). There are ways to |
| or where to look? Here are some basic guidelines | | | | computer recycle without leaving any personally |
| that will help you to make good decisions about | | | | identifying information on the computer. By doing |
| donating your computer and finding a computer | | | | this before you computer recycle, you may save |
| recycle plan to fit your needs. | | | | money in the long run! |
| 1. Make sure that your computer recycle | | | | 5. Nothing you are donating to the computer |
| beneficiary is legitimate. Not only are there | | | | recycle program should be more than five years |
| unethical individuals and computer recycle | | | | old. This is ancient in computer recycle time! |
| companies who will take your computer and sell it | | | | 6. Check with different organizations, such as |
| or its parts for profit, but they may also try to | | | | schools and libraries, before taking your computer |
| steal your information from your computer for | | | | to donate it. Oftentimes, such organizations do |
| illegal use. Check with the Better Business Bureau, | | | | not take donations directly. |
| just in case. | | | | 7. There are online and local organizations that |
| 2. The costliness of disposing old computer parts | | | | take computers directly, then refurbish them and |
| that need to be refurbished or replaced (also | | | | redistribute them to others in need. Check around |
| called e-waste) may be high, so some recycle | | | | to find out what is in your area. |
| programs may charge a fee to take your | | | | 8. You can get a tax deduction for donating a |
| computer. This fee may be to "wipe clean" your | | | | computer to a computer recycle program. For |
| computer's hard drive, etc. Make sure your fees | | | | example, a computer that you bought for $1,000, |
| do not overlap with a simple task you can | | | | but that is now worth $400, if you donate it, you |
| undertake on your own. | | | | can deduct $400 off of your taxes. Get receipts |
| 3. If you do want to "wipe clean" your computer | | | | and keep records. |
| yourself before you recycle, there are a number | | | | 9. When you participate in a computer recycle |
| of products available on the market to assist you | | | | program, you are helping someone in need. |
| in the process. | | | | 10. When you participate in such programs, you |
| 4. Ask the computer recycle program if they | | | | are helping to preserve and protect the |
| want you to leave any basic components or | | | | environment for future generations! |