I'm getting ready to junk an old desktop. I've backed up everything to a portable HD. I plan to pull and destroy the old HD. I've heard about places that recycle electronic junk, but I don't know where to take it. Any suggestions?
I'm getting ready to junk an old desktop. I've backed up everything to a portable HD. I plan to pull and destroy the old HD. I've heard about places that recycle electronic junk, but I don't know where to take it. Any suggestions?
Best Buy usually does that kinda thing, and occasionally local municipal centers will offer electronics recycling. Or you could throw the pig on CL and see if someone will throw you a few bucks.
The municipal transfer station (aka bulk recycling facility, aka "dump, but with sorting bins") in Oshawa has a designated spot where you can drop off obsolete electronics. A sign prohibits scavenging. I believe they send them for specialized recycling when they get a full bin's worth or whatever. Failing something municipal, maybe one of the bigger retailers would have a "look at us, we're trying to be green" program?
I've got a minvan full of 1992-4's finest Mac IIcis, etc. including high-end (for the day) video cards and 13" Trinitron RGB monitors, if anybody wants them for the hauling. Most of them even still work.
Check if there's a Freecycle group around where you live, you might be surprised as to what sort of junk you can get rid of there.
Recycle? My old one sits on the other side of the desk. Granted, I don't use it...
Most municipalities these days have information about recycling electronic goods on their website. They may not take it in the trash pickup, but it's likely they can tell you where you can take it.
Like dead car batteries and used motor oil, it's best that old electronics go in the creek behind your house, otherwise, the "recyclers" will sell them to China, where a 6-year-old girl sitting on a cardbord box will turn your commodore 64 into microwavable carcinogen-leaching tupperware containers.
You could turn your old hard drive into an external drive rather than destroying it.
poopshovel wrote: Like dead car batteries and used motor oil, it's best that old electronics go in the creek behind your house, otherwise, the "recyclers" will sell them to China, where a 6-year-old girl sitting on a cardbord box will turn your commodore 64 into microwavable carcinogen-leaching tupperware containers.
I miss my commodore.
I still have my old amiga in a box.
What about taking the "good stuff" out and using it. Magnets gold etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCpiPKLRT-M 
It turns out that Staples will recycle Dell stuff for free (for once, I was glad to own a Dell), anything else for $10.
How old is it? If it is still decent enough to surf the web and do simple e-mail type stuff you should consider donating it. It's the grassroots things to do! You can download DBAN (dariks boot and nuke, just google DBAN and you will find it) for free and totally DOD wipe the drive and reinstall Windows.
Too late, it's gone. The hard drive was failing anyway. It was an old machine.
I donate a few machines every year, directly to kids who need them through contacts at the semi-local school. the good ones go to the non techy kids, the ones that need work (all are functional) go to the kids who have a technical aptitude, along with a bag of parts they can install themselves (soundcards, cd drives, etc. ) the kids that get them would never have one otherwise, their in foster or halfway houses and generally have gotten a raw deal . i just heard (third hand, i rarely meet the kids who get these pc's) that one of the first kids that i gave one, had to be 8 years now, just graduated college , and had his way paid on computer scholarship of some sort . he didnt even know how to turn one on when i gave him his first pc... that alone makes it it worth the efforts.
dont toss em, get them so some kid who really needs one, theres more kids out there that wont get one any other way, than you think...
Look for a freegeek.org style place near you.
Goodwill does electronics recycling for free.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4r3krs8eEY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyrN8QqR0cE&feature=related
A little logic for the heck of it: Dell, HP, whoever, sells you a computer built with parts solely made in China. What in the world would make anyone think that Dell, HP, whoever, will spend the money/deal with the environmental restrictions to "recycle" this stuff in the U.S.? Just food for thought. Not trying to be a prick.
From what I understand, most of the stripping is done here. The remove everything from the case and sort the parts here. They then recycle the case. The electronics themselves go overseas.
924Guy, that's the most awesome thing I've ever heard. I'd want to track the kid down and at least buy him a beer once he's 21.
VanillaSky wrote: ... most of the stripping is done here. The remove everything from the case and sort the parts
Why can't we make it profitable to do the same with cars?
Yeah most e-recycling is done in the US.
Not to say every manufacturing company in China doesn't pollute like it's 1829.
NYG95GA wrote:VanillaSky wrote: ... most of the stripping is done here. The remove everything from the case and sort the partsWhy can't we make it profitable to do the same with cars?
We can. It's just more profitable to send it overseas.
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