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What to do with that old computer
Even though your new computer makes your previous machine seem like a hunk of junk, don’t just toss it in the trash bin. First of all, PCs contain cadmium, lead, and mercury—all bad stuff for the environment. And monitors can contain several pounds of lead.
Just because your computer seems outdated and useless to you doesn’t mean it can’t be put to some good elsewhere. If you can’t find a school, charity, library, or other organization interested in your old equipment, check out the National Directory of Computer Recycling Programs at www.microweb.com/pepsite/Recycle/recycle_index.html. If you still can’t find a home for your old PC, check out the National Safety Council’s Electronic Equipment Recyclers Contact List at www.nsc.org/ehc/epr2/recycler.htm.
Before you send an old PC to the recycler, though, consider hanging on to some of the components. If your hard drive contains confidential information about you or your clients, remove it. Even information you’ve deleted can be recovered by a professional. Plus, you could install that hard drive on the new machine for easy backups or other storage needs. Other items that might come in handy for your new machine are the RAM, CD and DVD drives, and the graphics card. With the extra graphics card, you can hook up your old monitor and your new monitor at the same time—a nifty way to increase your screen "real estate."
Photo © Brand X Pictures.
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