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Donating or Recycling Unwanted IT Equipment by Claire Jarrett
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Donating or Recycling Unwanted IT Equipment |
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Electronics
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It seems like there’s new and improved technology on the market every day, and this situation really puts us in a bind sometimes in regards to how to dispose of old IT equipment. You don’t want to get a fine for improper disposal, and you do want to make the most of the planet’s resources, so what can you do? Even if your old IT equipment is no longer working, you may be able to find a charity to donate it to. Goodwill takes old, broken computers and other equipment as part of their training programs. They refurbish them or salvage parts from them or simply practice on them. This is a very good way to dispose of unwanted IT equipment. The majority of big name electronics manufacturers provide for recycling of old IT equipment. This is a free service and may even get you some discounts with the company. Check the website of the manufacturer of your equipment to see if they offer a recycling program near you. Alternately, check the website of the brand you plan to buy. They may give you a bit of money off your new purchase when you recycle your old equipment. Be sure to dispose of your old computers, cell-phones, and so on correctly. The components of IT equipment are not at all biodegradable, and the lithium found in the batteries is poisonous and can contaminate the earth and the water table. The same is true of the cadmium, lead and mercury found in older monitors. So don’t just toss your old equipment out in the trash. Take it to a proper recycling center or donate it to Goodwill or some other good cause. Batteries of all kinds must always be disposed of properly. They are very toxic and harmful to the environment. Any time you are disposing of a battery, be sure to do so properly by taking it to a proper recycling site. These are often located in computer stores and other types of stores that sell IT equipment. Before you take your old computer, cell-phone or other IT equipment to a recycling center or donate it to charity, be sure that you remove all of your personal data. Wipe the memory clean or do a “system restore” to take the item back to factory settings. Even then, check to be sure all of your bank, credit card and other sensitive information has been wiped out. There are also programs you can purchase that will make a “clean sweep” or you could have a hard drive disposal service destroy all of your “evidence”! Remember to get documentation of having an item recycled. This document should contain the way in which the item is recycled, a description of the item, its serial numbers, and the date. Alternately, if you donate the item to charity, be sure to get a receipt for tax purposes. Claire Jarrett is writing for Millrace IT, MillRace IT will buy any IT and telecoms equipment that still has economic value. They also offer . IT Recycling and IT Asset Recovery
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