Do you know how to dispose of old computers? So many computers and other pieces of electronic equipment become obsolete every year, and yet disposing of computers remains a mystery to many people. Don't just throw them in the trash; there is a proper way to get rid of old computers. You can recycle old computers, which can reduce pollution and the use of energy. Or, you can repurpose or even donate old computers if they still have life in them.
Electronic equipment contains valuable resources: gold, palladium, copper, and rare earth elements. Computers also contain lead, mercury, and cadmium, all materials that have health effects if they get into groundwater or if they are incinerated. In general, reducing the amount of material in the waste stream is a good idea.
Before we begin, do you really need to get rid of it? Check out our guide that helps you see whether you need to upgrade or replace your computer. Oftentimes, an upgrade will speed up and modernize your system and may surprise you. But with aging PCs, often they just need to be repurposed, donated, or retired and recycled.
Security concerns
Before you do anything with your computer, you need to ensure that all confidential or personally identifying information has been permanently removed from your storage drive. Be sure you have all the files you want on your new device before you do this. After you start removing information, none of your files will be usable. You cannot trust that throwing away your storage drive will keep your information safe. You must take steps to ensure that your data is erased.
There are different ways to clear your storage drive. One is to physically destroy the drive. For hard disk drives, it can be difficult to find a facility that will shred the drive, but it ensures that no data can be recovered from it. For solid state drives, it's easier to find machinery that will shred the drive. In some areas, there are document shredding companies that will also have the ability to shred storage drives.
You can also purchase, or find for free, software that will overwrite all the information on your storage drive. Be very sure that the software does what you need it to do by independently verifying the company and the software. Software should meet the Department of Defense 5220.22-M standard. To learn more about wiping a hard drive, read here.
Repurpose your old Computer
Often, components or even entire computers can be repurposed for another function. An old storage drive can be wiped and made into an external drive, either for backups or extra storage. An old computer can turn into a home server, allowing you to connect home electronics like streaming devices to your network.
Donate your old Computer
If your electronics are still functional, consider donating them to a charity. Many charities can put your older electronic devices to good use. In some cases, computers and components can be taken to a nonprofit organization that then sells them to hobbyists or recycles them. Contact your favorite nonprofit organization and see if they can use your discarded computer.
Recycle your old Computer
Depending on your community, there can be multiple options for recycling your computer. Organizations will occasionally run recycling drives to get a truckload of electronics. This is a good way to do bulk recycling.
In some communities, there will also be a place that can take electronic equipment for safe disposal. This will often be connected to the municipal sanitary landfill, garbage collection, or recycling organizations. There might be limited hours or collection points, so you'll need to do some research.
It's never a good idea to toss a computer out with the trash. In addition to adding to the amount of waste, there are components valuable to someone building a computer, and heavy metals that no one wants in the environment.
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FAQs
Most computers contain hazardous materials that don't belong in a landfill. See the Environmental Protection Agency's Electronics Donation and Recycling page to learn about recycling or donating your computer. Or check with the computer manufacturer or a local electronics store.
What is the most appropriate way to dispose of an old computer? ›
Most computers contain hazardous materials that don't belong in a landfill. See the Environmental Protection Agency's Electronics Donation and Recycling page to learn about recycling or donating your computer. Or check with the computer manufacturer or a local electronics store.
How to dispose of old outdated computer devices? ›
Donate your old Computer
Many charities can put your older electronic devices to good use. In some cases, computers and components can be taken to a nonprofit organization that then sells them to hobbyists or recycles them. Contact your favorite nonprofit organization and see if they can use your discarded computer.
How do I wipe my old computer before recycling? ›
Let's see what those steps are:
- Open the Settings of the system.
- Click on 'Update & Security'
- Go to 'Recovery' option in the menu on the left side.
- Choose the option 'Get Started' under the Reset This PC.
- Select 'Remove Everything' from the dialogue box that pops up like the one below.
Erasing a computer hard drive before recycling will help to prevent your data from being stolen.
Does Best Buy wipe hard drives before recycling? ›
After you drop off your old tech, our trusted recycling partners will wipe any remaining data from devices before determining if the product can be repaired, repurposed or recycled, but you can also wipe your hard drive before coming in. Here's how to do it.
How do you dispose of a computer that won't turn on? ›
In case the laptop is dead and won't start, you may take out the hard drive and destroy it manually. Now, here you have two options, either you could contact a professional service provider who'd sanitise your hard drive by shredding or degaussing. Or you may use a hammer and destroy it yourself.
Can I do anything with old computer? ›
There are a few options: Dispose: trash it. Recycle: extract valuable parts for re-use. Upcycle: send your old computer where it will still be useful.
Should outdated computer equipment be landfilled? ›
Computers are composed of elements that are quite valuable. Moreover, most of the components of a computer are recyclable and reusable. It is, therefore, recommended to not just throw out computers and other types of IT equipment, but rather they should be properly recycled and reused if possible.
Can you completely wipe a hard drive? ›
Yes, it is possible to completely wipe a hard drive. Your computer comes with tools to help you wipe its hard drive. But it's not always easy to do, and if your computer has an SSD hard drive, you'll need to use encryption or perform a full format to reliably wipe it completely.
We guarantee the destruction of the electronics that are put into our easy-to-use Recycling Kit. Not only will this process be done right, you can rest assured that it will be done so in compliance of data security, data privacy, and environmental regulations.
Does destroying the hard drive erase everything? ›
Physical destruction is often deemed as the most thorough method. This involves drilling holes in the hard drive or completely crushing or shredding the drive it to ensure no data can be recovered. Degaussing is another effective option. This method uses a strong magnetic field to erase all data on the hard drive.
What should I remove from my old computer? ›
If you have any licensed software, deactivate and remove it from your machine. You can then wipe the hard drive to remove any traces of personal data. Once this is done, you will want to ensure that the computer is usable for the next person who gets it. or unusable if it's headed for the junk heap.
How do I remove personal information from a computer? ›
How to Remove All Data from Windows 10 Laptop PC:
- Click Update & Security.
- Go to the left-hand side, scroll down and click on Recovery.
- From there, go to Reset this PC. ...
- A prompt will appear with two options, Keep My Files or Remove Everything. ...
- Click the Change settings option.
- Turn the Data Erasure toggle switch to on.
Is it safe to remove a hard drive? Yes, it is safe to remove a hard drive as long as the computer is powered off and you are grounded to prevent static electricity damage.
What should I do to my old computer? ›
How to repurpose your old computer:
- Create an external hard drive. Your old hard drive can make an excellent external storage device. ...
- Give it a new operating system. Consider installing a lightweight operating system, such as Linux or ChromeOS, to make your old device a makeshift Chromebook.
- Reuse it in a new way.
You can recycle old computers, which can reduce pollution and the use of energy. Or, you can repurpose or even donate old computers if they still have life in them. Electronic equipment contains valuable resources: gold, palladium, copper, and rare earth elements.
What to do with a 20 year old computer? ›
7 ways to give your old computer new life
- Make a home theater media center. ...
- Play retro games. ...
- Create a game server. ...
- Create a file server. ...
- Use your old computer for video conferencing. ...
- Use your old computer in your kitchen or garage. ...
- Boost your home security. ...
- How to get your old computer ready.
While electronics are made of valuable metals and materials that can be recycled, they also contain toxic chemicals that should not end up in landfills. Consider two options for their next life: repair/donation or recycling.
