Tenomania.com

If we kept all the computers we purchased over the past decade, the office would be impassable. Laptops and desktops, both office-owned and personal, tend to fizzle and die with their warranties. While this passing is predictable, the disposal of their bodies and inner workings provides a dilemma for many owners.

Unfortunately, you can’t burn those computers and scatter their ashes over some Rocky Mountain pass. Those machines are filled with toxic chemicals, carcinogens and heavy metals that will, eventually, leech into the ground and find a way into some water source. Fortunately, you have access to several dozen creative recycling solutions for that old computer. The ten most popular solutions are listed below, along with links to resources that provide step-by-step instructions on how to conduct each process.

1. Recycle

Recycling that old computer seems the most logical conclusion, but this process is fraught with complicated issues. How do you protect the material contained on that old hard drive? Where does that computer go once it’s left your hands? Since ID theft and e-waste smuggling operations are rife, your computer may end up in the hands of the wrong person in the wrong country.

You can eliminate the first problem by using a product like Eraser that eliminates all data on your hard drive. Your diligence in this effort will help you rest assured that you haven’t passed on any readable private data. The second solution involves discovering where that recycling center sends your computer and its parts once they take charge. According to Treehugger, developed countries have been exporting tons of electronic waste to China for inexpensive, labor-intensive recycling and disposal for years. This activity was made illegal in 2000, but smuggling, corruption, and “China’s appetite for scrap” opens doors for your old computer to take part in this nefarious cycle.

Since manufacturers want to avoid any scandal, this recycling route would be the easiest one to take. Simply send that old Dell back to Dell and the old Gateway back to Gateway, etc. Some manufacturers may charge a fee for this process. Other manufacturers may not charge a fee, but you may have to purchase packing materials and postage to send that computer back to its source. Read the Treehugger article and another article by Salon, as both pieces offer sound advice on how you can handle the computer recycling process responsibly. You can search through E-cycling’s database to find a reliable recycler near you.

2. Donate

Based on the adage that one person’s junk is another person’s treasure, you might donate that old computer. As Techsoup states, it works best if you donate your equipment to a nonprofit or school-based refurbisher rather than directly to a charity or school, especially if you need to wipe your hard drive or if you’re unsure about your equipment’s condition. Responsible refurbisher pass your equipment along to nonprofits and schools after they ensure that it’s been cleaned out and working properly. Additionally, they will dispose of e-waste after they cull through the equipment to salvage usable parts.

Free Geek is, perhaps, becoming the most well-known organization to handle this process because they salvage what they can and dispose of the rest responsibly. Although this organization is located in Oregon, plans to expand nationwide are underway. But, if you can’t wait for a Free Geek to open near you, you can find a local or regional refurbisher through Techsoup’s list, which is searchable by Zip Code.

Finally, if you cannot find a local refurbisher, you might go directly to those who need used computer equipment. Online resources like Share the Technology offer ways for you to connect directly with organizations that need specific equipment through matches. If you can’t find a match, you can post an offer to donate and wait for someone to contact you.

3. Resell

Yes, you can sell that idle or dead computer locally, but you’ll find more buyers through an option like eBay. eBay is involved with the Rethink Initiative that makes it easy for you to deal with all your used electronic equipment. You can sell the items yourself through eBay (they provide you with a checklist before you sell that computer), or you can use three solutions:

• Trade in your old technology for PayPal cash
• Find a drop-off or pickup location through Zip Code search where those folks will sell your equipment on eBay for a percentage; 3) Find a local trading assistant who can handle the selling process for you.

The market value for used computers drops dramatically after two years, so don’t expect to make a fortune when you go this route. You can search through places like the Used Computer Mall to make sure that you’re asking and receiving fair market value. If your computer is more than three years old, your best bet is to recycle or donate – but the latter option might be limited for computers that are less than five-years-old.

4. Recycle, Donate, Resell (aka: Cannibalize)

This option is for the person who wants to sell old equipment by parts, much like you would dissect an old automobile or motorcycle for parts sales. Some peripherals, for example, are perfect for reuse; computer cords and speakers are fairly standardized, meaning they can be used for a variety of computer models and makes. You could hold onto those items or resell them for a higher price than equipment that’s outdated or damaged.

Other materials, like ink cartridges or one-time-use CDs and disks, are more difficult to deal with. Earth911 offers a Zip Code search engine that lists companies and organizations where you can take those items for recycle or donation. When you list items for sale on eBay or through other venues, be sure to include the name of the component, part and serial number, and any other pertinent information so that the buyer can find those parts easily and you won’t waste time answering questions.

5. Return

Companies like Gateway and HP have trade-in programs where you can deduct a certain amount from the cost of a new computer or receive a credit toward merchandise. You can also trade that laptop in for a TigerDirect gift certificate. Once again, you will receive fair market value, which may not be enough to purchase a keyboard. Be prepared for that possibility.

6. Keep it in the family

A five-year-old system may contain too many bugs for useful service, but it may have potential as a learning tool for those kids or cousins who are potential electronics geeks. They can tear that system apart and rebuild something useful (offer them the ideas below). Make a deal where they will recycle or donate any parts they don’t use in the process. If your computer remains functional, let the kids play with it after you remove all sensitive material and install instructional games. Once the kids have destroyed the computer beyond belief you can make a decision about where to go from there.

7. Dedicated Jukebox/Recording Box

If you’ve accumulated so many digital music files that they would consume half the hard disk in your new computer, use the old system to play your MP3 files. You can transfer the files to CD and then connect your sound card’s 1/8-inch stereo plug to a pair of RCA female plugs using a Y cable. Although this solution isn’t portable, it’s cheaper than any hand-held MP3 player.

If you connect a keyboard to your computer’s MIDI port (or – better yet – use a wireless keyboard/mouse combo), you can add your two cents to your music repertoire. You may want to replace your sound card, install some sequencing software, and add more memory if you think the computer will hold up for another year or so. These additions will add to the quality of your efforts.

8. Upgrades/Downgrades

If your computer is less than five-years-old, why not replace a few items rather than purchase a new computer? Upgrade your memory, add a larger hard disk, or replace that CRT monitor with an LCD. For less than one-third the price of a new computer (in most cases) you can eek out a few more years on that computer. This option can help you save your bucks for next-generation systems that will arrive in another two years or so. On the other hand, you can quench that yen for a new computer, but continue to milk the old one for all that it’s worth if you save it for use as a simple word processor. Remove all extraneous software and documents including images and music, and defrag the disk so that you have plenty of space and speed for new documents. You can use the new machine for all your high-tech options and use the older system for all the grunt work. If you feel that the older computer may die on you without notice, just back up documents to CDs as you create them.

9. New Servers/Home Automation

Thiravudh Khoman offers some uses for old 486 computers, but his ideas can be utilized in newer machines as well. Use the old computer as servers for your printer or other apps, as a space to save files, as a backup and/or as a Windows server station. If you’re capable of adding X10 devices, you can use that old system to automate your home (make your coffee, regulate your thermostat, etc.). Scour Automated Home for some of their most popular ideas.

10. Get Creative

Laptop carries a few of the most innovative ideas on how to reuse computer parts, no matter if they belong to your laptop or your desktop. Turn an old keyboard into a wallet or turn an old laptop into a weather/news station with Yahoo! widgets. You can also recycle parts and use the remaining cabinets as pet houses, or paint them and use them for bookshelf or knick-knack units. If you hand these empty units over to the kids to build a playhouse, make sure that you wrap any sharp edges with foam and/or layers of duct tape.

You can always simplify your life and leave the computers on the front lawn with a sign, “Free computer.” Or, you can offer it to someone on Gigoit.com or at Freecycle. Just remember to erase or overwrite that hard drive and realize that personal information can be stored on flash memory cards, floppy discs, tapes, DVDs and CDs as well. But, it’s worth the effort to take responsibility for that old computer when you’re ready to let go. The earth and its six + billion inhabitants (not including animals) will thank you.