Best way to dispose an old computer?

[mj4cy]

Got a couple of older computers that are simply taking up space and our new lap top does everything we need. I'm looking to properly get rid of it somewhere in the Des Moines area. I can't imagine anyone wanting two 8 year old computers, so I'll probably dispose of it. I read you can't throw it away because of some of the hazardous metals inside it. I assume I should take the hard-drive out no matter what?

Any tips would be helpful. thanks.

 

[acoustimac]

Got a couple of older computers that are simply taking up space and our new lap top does everything we need. I'm looking to properly get rid of it somewhere in the Des Moines area. I can't imagine anyone wanting two 8 year old computers, so I'll probably dispose of it. I read you can't throw it away because of some of the hazardous metals inside it. I assume I should take the hard-drive out no matter what?

Any tips would be helpful. thanks.

Call Des Moines Metro Waste. They can tell you how to handle it there. Some of the materials in an older computer can be nasty. Mercury, for example, was pretty common. You might also talk to repair shops to see if they could be donated for parts.

 

[intrepid27]

I'm pretty sure most Best Buys and a lot of computer stores will take them for recycling. Much easier to find options than it was 10 years ago.

 

[keepngoal]

REACT (sp?) in Cedar Rapids takes old computers and put them to use .... certainly there is somewhere in DSM that would do a similar thing.

-keep

 

[ianoconnor]

Throw it off the tallest building you can find?

 

[CYVADER]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzGWvZAd228]YouTube - Office space fax machine[/ame]

 

[simply1]

Costco has a partner which will send you a prepaid box, I believe, to mail it in, may or may not get money for it (probably won't in this case) but it's free.

Best Buy and Staples, Goodwill or Salvation Army may as well if they work. You can restore the computer and then use one of the free wipe drive programs rather than removing the hard drive.

 

[InCytful]

I'm pretty sure most Best Buys and a lot of computer stores will take them for recycling. Much easier to find options than it was 10 years ago.

BestBuy will give you gift card for monitors and things, and take most of the rest of the computer for free. You have to remove the hard drive as they won't take those. Recycling place will probably shread the hard drive for you, for a small charge that is.

 

[Al_4_State]

YouTube - Office space fax machine

I opened this thread to post this video.

Well done.

 

[cyclones1]

Staples will take Dell's for free. Other brands cost $10 I believe.

 

[urb1]

Costco has a partner which will send you a prepaid box, I believe, to mail it in, may or may not get money for it (probably won't in this case) but it's free.

Best Buy and Staples, Goodwill or Salvation Army may as well if they work. You can restore the computer and then use one of the free wipe drive programs rather than removing the hard drive.

Goodwill does take computers (at least in Urbandale). I dropped off three of them earlier this year. If they can fix them, they will; if they can't they recycle them.

 

[jumbopackage]

You can take old electronics to Best Buy.
They will take them for free and dispose of them.

CRTs will cost you ~10-20 dollars each to get rid of there (can't remember exactly), but they will give you a gift card in that amount.

Just take them into customer service and they'll take care of you. As another poster said, no hard drives though.

 

[C.John]

Like URB1 said, Goodwill.

 

[NebrClone]

Got a couple of older computers that are simply taking up space and our new lap top does everything we need. I'm looking to properly get rid of it somewhere in the Des Moines area. I can't imagine anyone wanting two 8 year old computers, so I'll probably dispose of it. I read you can't throw it away because of some of the hazardous metals inside it. I assume I should take the hard-drive out no matter what?

Any tips would be helpful. thanks.

Make sure and take the hard drive out and destroy. Erasing and deleting will not get rid of peraonal data permanently.

 

[BCoffClone125]

I opened this thread to post this video.

Well done.

Same. Great minds think alike.

 

[Oldgoat]

Catapult that sucker into kinnick stadium.

 

[gocubs2118]

Gravity test it, duh.

 

[cytech]

I can remember throwing some out the 8th floor window in towers before. But as was said most computer repair places will take towers for free. And goodwill and best buy.

 

[Chad]

I just dropped off a printer, two desktops, keyboard and speakers at goodwill in ankeny. They provide a receipt for taxes.

 

[Cyberclone]

Got a couple of older computers that are simply taking up space and our new lap top does everything we need. I'm looking to properly get rid of it somewhere in the Des Moines area. I can't imagine anyone wanting two 8 year old computers, so I'll probably dispose of it. I read you can't throw it away because of some of the hazardous metals inside it. I assume I should take the hard-drive out no matter what?

Any tips would be helpful. thanks.

Here is a good place.

http://ewasterecycle.com/