"303 Computers, Boulder, Colorado

HERE ARE SOME TECH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FACTOIDS:

• Computers and other related equipment contain hazardous materials including lead, lithium, cadmium, mercury and beryllium.
• Studies estimate nearly 500 million computers will become obsolete by 2007 in the United States; that’s billions of pounds of surplus computers.
• Electronics recycling can divert over 95% of hazardous computer components and materials from our landfills.

Environmental friendliness is quickly becoming a more and more important as humanity notices its surroundings change as time passes. It is every person’s responsibility to do their best to minimize their impact on the earth. Thus, it is in all our best interests to make responsible decisions regarding how we use (and dispose of) our technology.

DONATION POINTERS:

• Determine if your old computer can be reused. If you have a computer that is less then five years old, odds are that it can be put to good use by someone else. Rather than donate equipment directly to a charity or school, however, it is usually a good idea to take it a refurbisher, especially if you are concerned about old hard drive security or are uncertain about the computer's condition. Refurbishers will ensure that equipment is ready to be re-used and can stand behind the reborn product. Otherwise, if the system is too old, 303 Computers will accept your system for a fee, and see that it gets recycled properly.
• Remember the accessories. If you can, include the keyboard, mouse, printer, packaged software, or any other accessories you use with the computer. Schools and nonprofits can almost always put them to good use, and most organizations only accept complete systems.
• Provide the original software media. To ensure that the software transfer is legal, pass along the original disks, media, Certificate of Authenticity sticker (usually on the computer), user manual, and other documentation that came with the equipment. All these components contribute to the system’s overall usability by someone else.

If your machine still functions (and not just as a paperweight), then seeing that it is reused is perhaps the best option. Data protection is a big concern with most recyclers. Our recertification programs completely zero out every sector of the drive, thus making it virtually impossible for anyone to recover any of your previous data. Most recycled computers only end up costing a small amount of money to get back in good working order. See about getting it into the right hands by bringing it in to 303 Computers for donation.