| Computers are handy during their lifetime but | | | | more, you’ll be in for a tax break! |
| once they've chewed their last byte, disposing of | | | | Recycle |
| them properly can be a burden. Computers | | | | If donation for reuse or repair is not a viable |
| contain toxic chemicals and carcinogens that are | | | | option, you can send your computer for recycling |
| hazardous to everyone’s health. Computer | | | | to recycling companies. You should pick the |
| recycling can be of great benefit to both the | | | | recycling company that would reuse the parts |
| environment and the economy. Estimates show | | | | they can and manage waste responsibly. They |
| that nearly 75% of outdated electronics are being | | | | should be able to show you that parts don’t |
| stored, and if all that can be recycled, the savings | | | | go to countries with poor ecological track records, |
| in resources and to the environment will be | | | | like China, and that items like circuit boards and |
| enormous. | | | | leaded glass get exported to green-friendly sites |
| Reuse or Donate | | | | in developed nations. |
| There’s a saying that goes, “One | | | | Before sending your computer for recycling or for |
| man’s trash is another man’s | | | | donating, you want to make sure that the data |
| treasure.” Donate your old but still usable | | | | on your hard drive won’t go elsewhere. If |
| computer to public schools, charities, or | | | | you plan to clean it yourself, use a reliable disk |
| low-income families that may need them. If your | | | | cleaning software to avoid getting your personal |
| computer is less than five years old, there’s a | | | | data in the wrong hands. Other recycling |
| good chance that someone else will find it useful | | | | companies wipe out your hard drive’s data |
| still. It feels good to know that you are able to | | | | for you and provide a certification for the |
| help your less-fortunate neighbor acquire a | | | | process. You have to verify first before sending |
| computer that they can’t afford. What’s | | | | your computer if they offer this option. |