Recycling Old Desktop Computers

Find the best vendors for recycling computers

By LaRita Heet, Freelance Writer, Journalist, IBT Designer, LMH Communications

With today’s ever-changing technological advances, businesses must keep up with software (and hardware) updates, which often mean recycling old desktop computers while they still have remaining useful life. Even if your older computers do not have useful life, they can still be recycled in such a way as to help counteract their carbon footprints on the Earth.

The top three ways of recycling old desktop computers:

Older machines can be refurbished and resold for a profit.
An older desktop computer with remaining useful life is a valuable – and tax-deductible – donation to nonprofits, such as churches and schools.
Even if it doesn’t have any remaining useful life, your old computer can be recycled in such a way as to lessen its carbon footprint on the world.

Find computer-recycling providers that offer “zero waste” computer recycling

Vendors that handle recycling old desktop computers offer many recycling options – and some even pay you for your used-but-still-useful desktop systems.
Try: Check out Business.com's current listings of electronics recycling and computer recycling providers.

Obey the law in recycling old desktop computers

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandate specific standards for some types of computer recycling, so check with your computer-recycling vendor to ensure they are EPA and HIPAA- compliant.
Try: For computer disposal, visit Business.com’s business directory to find computer-recycling vendors that are EPA and HIPAA compliant. Check out Asset Recovery Services for HIPAA-compliant certified computer recycling and disposal services. Their hard-drive sterilization services are performed using approved Department of Defense (DOD) techniques. For more information about HIPAA regulations, as well as IRS tax deductions for computer donations, and more, go to Computers with Causes.

Look into recycling computer equipment

Recycling computer equipment is a great way to reuse – or properly dispose of – all separate computer parts.
Try: Consult Business.com for numerous resources for recycling old desktop computers, recycling computer equipment and other electronic product recycling. E Tech Recycling advocates against dumping electronic equipment in landfills, and handles recycling computer equipment (or whole systems), including monitors, printers, printer cartridges, and a heap of other electronic equipment they simply refer to as “E-Junk.”

Buy from manufacturers who will also recycle your old desktop computers

Purchase your new desktop computers from a company that is environmentally conscious and will recycle your old system for you. That way, your company saves money, and the environment gets a boost.
Try: Purchase a new PC from Dell, where you can send your old Dell PC back to the company for recycling (yes, they’ll even send someone to pick up the old one) – at no cost to you. If you buy an Apple computer, Apple will recycle old desktop computers and monitors for free regardless of the manufacturer. Learn about the value of desktop computer recycling by visiting CarbonFund.org, for information about offsetting your small business’s carbon footprint through their Carbonfree program.

Find a vendor that removes and destroys all asset tags that identify you or your company when they’re recycling old desktop computers.
When choosing a computer-recycling vendor, make sure they offer safe, quality shipping preparation for your still-working system – to ensure that it arrives at the recycler in the same working condition in which it left your office.
Creating and managing your own computer disposal program can be a costly venture for a small business; Instead, find a provider for recycling computers that can do it for you for a low price, free, or even at a small profit to you.