Recycling your old computer by repurposing it

Daily Cup of Tech has an article on how to use your old computer for something else.

How about turning it into a firewall/router to network everything else?

How about a file server?

How about a print server?

How about… oh, just check the article for ideas.

Recycle old computer equipment, one way or another

[updated 2009.1.12]

Computer equipment often contains parts which should not be discarded in landfills, etc. Also, obsolete equipment (in local terms) may be quite useful elsewhere in the country or world.

• Mygreenelectronics has resources for recycling old electronics, finding new greener electronics, and checking your cost of use for what you have.
• Dell recycling program For a small fee, Dell will arrange pickup of up to 3 items of old computer equipment (computers, keyboards, mice, monitors, printers, fax machines, scanners, etc.), of any brand (NOT just Dell). Partnered with the National Cristina Foundation to donate to disabled and economically disadvantaged across America (tax deduction possible).
• Hewlett Packard recycling program For a small fee, HP will arrange pickup of any brand computer equipment. “HP uses state-of-the-art facilities developed with strategic partners, as well as the alignment with selected vendors worldwide, to ensure economical and environmentally sound management of end-of-life electronics hardware. This enables us to turn unwanted products into valuable commodities that can be reused to produce new products, thus reducing the burden on the earth’s resources.”
• Freecycle.org for Sebastian County allows you to give your old equipment away to someone nearby. This is the local chapter of the Freecycle.org site, a growing international movement to recycle usable items instead of trashing them.
• ZDNet suggests Gazelle (formerly Second Rotation) will “back electronic gadgets including cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, laptops, GPS devices, gaming consoles, camcorders, satellite radios and portable hard drives. No matter how old.”
• MakeUseOf suggests Venjuvo to sell/recycle used smart phones, gaming consoles, MP3 players, laptops, GPS systems, digital cameras, digital camcorders and HDTVs.
• CNet has a review of trade-in services that pay off.

Even if you don’t want to use anything like these, be sure to let the local landfill know you have electronic equipment to dispose of when you take it there or put it out. It needs to be placed with the hazardous waste and not in the regular landfill.

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Before you sell that old computer….

These are intended to clear your hard drive(s) so nothing can be recovered, when you sell or junk your computer.

• Eraser Recommended by Gizmo’s Tech Support Alert Newsletter.
• Darik’s Boot and Nuke Recommended by Gizmo’s Tech Support Alert Newsletter.
• How to REALLY erase a hard drive tells how to do it using the software which may already have come with your hard drive. Recommended by Gizmo’s Tech Support Alert Newsletter.

Hardware the second time around with SecondRotation

SecondRotation will buy and recycle your old cell phones, laptops, gamestations/consoles, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, and GPS locators.

Get an estimate, send it free (inside the U.S.), and get paid. Recommended by C/Net Best of Web.

Buymytronics wants your old stuff

Buymytronics wants “your used, new or broken Electronics today! We offer a fast, simple, and eco-friendly way for you to get money for your iPod, iPhone, Nintendo, Microsoft, Zune, Sony or PSP Game Console. We accept iPod Classic, Touch, Video, Photo, Nano, Mini, 4th to 1st Generation iPods, iPhone, Zune 2 and 1, Wii, DS Lite, Game Cube, Playstation 3, 2 and 1, X-Box, X-Box 360, PSP game consoles. We don’t care about the condition of your electronics. We will accept a Bricked iPhone, a Sad Faced Hard Drive iPod, a New PS3, an X-Box with a Disk Read Error or an old Wii. We will pay you top dollar for your unwanted electronic devices – guaranteed! Keep your eWaste out of the landfill and get some quick cash in return!”

Also cell phones, PDAs, laptops, camcorders and digital cameras.

They will send a quote on what you want to sell. This might be a good way to recycle your old equipment. Suggested by Coolsites newsletter.