Electronic-Hardware-Recycling
Gives Those In Need A Chance To Learn New Skills

By giving generously, recycling electronics becomes easier knowing that your donation can benefit someone who has alot less than you do.

When lacking the means to obtain any kind of equipment, a chance for someone to grab the opportunity to begin to learn something new is a welcomed godsend. I am referring mainly to second hand computers.


My first home computer years ago, was actually made up of refurbished-computer-equipment.

Someone I knew built them and sold them dirt cheap, and they were internet-ready with basic software installed. The price was incredibly low, and since I didn't know much about them anyway, I bought one.

Photo credit: alvimann from morguefile.com

I had no decent sound system to speak of, the monitor was the size of a small tv set and three times the weight and depth (remember those things?), and it was truly a dinosaur compared to what other people had. But, it functioned well for my purposes.

That computer lasted me at least three years, and I sure learned alot.

Keyboarding skills certainly improved, I slowly looked at the workings of file systems, email, the internet of course, and through some trial and error, made some huge mistakes,(like deleting the command system - don't ever do that!) but learned how to fix some of my mistakes too.

When it became ridiculously too slow to download games and things like that, I upgraded again to something newer, but again, second-hand after someone else did a little electronic-hardware-recycling of their own in my family.


My point is, you don't have to have all of the bells and whistles. You don't need to have the "cadillac of computers", at least not when you are just learning how to use one. I could have bought brand new, but what about someone who can't?

This Is Where We Come In By Donating

Check Freecycle.org in your area to see if someone is looking for an entire system or particular part for free.

Place an ad on Craig's List or on eBay.

Try an ad in your local newspaper or Buy & Sell Section through your community internet service.

Check at work. Maybe a co-worker is looking for something for their kids to play around on. That's a common thing.

Perhaps you work in some kind of a "helping" Agency, like a Shelter or a Social Services Agency or a Literacy Group. Clients of these centres could benefit greatly at home for a variety of reasons.

I did in fact work with someone whose hobby was to gather up as many computer parts as possible, build new computers, and give them away to people who could improve their office skills at home, or job search newspapers and things of that nature.

Check with Churches, non-profit groups - they could be looking for something for their own purposes for teaching aids, or again, they may be aware of needy families whose school-age children could benefit from a computer at home.


The electronic-hardware-recycling possibilities for swapping, or donating your refurbished or original computer equipment like monitors, keyboards, software, printers are endless really. Check out the computer shop where you bought your equipment. They may gladly want to buy parts, or have an electronic-hardware-recycling program in place for this type of disposal.

Protect your identity. What a computer shop can do for you, is rid all traces of any personal information on your hard-drive that identifies you. Identity theft schemes are quite rampant. Protect your identity at all costs before you do any electronic-hardware-recycling, even with family members.

Equipment eventually tossed or given away by them will put info into the hands of strangers. This is always the chance you take if you don't take steps to erase everything, so be very cautious in this regard.

If your hardware is in pieces or not in good working order at all, make sure it goes to a reputable recycler.

Here's what you want to know about their electronic-hardware-recycling policy for all types of equipment.

Do they comply with their provincial/state and local regulations for the disposal of electronics? What state laws do they follow?

Do they send e-waste overseas? Do those places have proper recycling facilities in place for the disposal of circuit-boards, monitors and televisions?

There was also piece on 60 Minutes this year regarding all of this kind of electronic-hardware-recycling equipment going overseas and making "toxic towns" out of villages where this equipment is taken apart by locals, including small children for what I would imagine would be pittance in pay, but income for the family nonetheless.

These locations were purposely kept on the outskirts of the main towns, and during the reporting, it was obvious they didn't really want cameras rolling to film the obvious conditions these people were living in daily. The reporters talked about how the air was so heavy with the smells from the toxins in the air, and how difficult it was to breath.

Some companies on this side of the globe didn't know where the e-waste was going, and some knew exactly where it was going and what the conditions would be.

Sad situation, but it's just business and VERY BIG business for some people.


Check about empty inkjet and toner cartridges at computer shops.

These are refurbished by being refilled and sold, and you can get paid a little something for them sometimes depending upon their policy.


Who doesn't have a whole lot of junk-drawer-items perfect for electronic- hardware-recycling?

Eyeglasses can be sent to third world countries.

The Lions Club is involved heavily in this recycling program.

Fact: Over 3 million people benefited directly in 2005 alone through this program.

Check with your Optometrist or any prescription eye-glass store, and they can probably direct you.

The "Gift of Sight" is invaluable, and funded by LensCrafters.


You can return most unwanted cell phones and mobile phones to retail stores. There are laws in some places requiring that wireless providers must accept these types of items as far as electronic-hardware-recycling goes.

"call2recycle.com" can help with additional items like batteries as well as cell phones.

Connect with "charitablerecycling.ca" for their services as well.

Sprint has a program called "Sprint Project Connect" that accepts all brands of phones that can be refurbished, and provided to survivors of domestic violence for emergencies. Agencies against domestic violence benefit greatly from this.

Recycled phone proceeds also benefit a number of charities such as focusing on Internet Safety for Kids, Wildlife, and the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Phones do contain toxic waste that eventually will get out in the landfills, so they should be donated instead or recycled in a proper manner.


Sam's Club may offer credit for something new on trade-ins of old electronic-hardware-recycling items such as gaming consoles, ipods, notebooks and printers.

So, what is the answer to handling electronic-hardware-recycling? Not sure exactly, but I do believe, as was mentioned in the video, that as long as people insist on having every new item produced, no matter how old their present item is, this situation will remain never ending.

With that in mind, try to be satisfied with what you have for as long as you can, and if not, keep it "here" somehow.

What a great way to reduce carbon-footprints.

At least try to see if you can get something back, by just GIVING a little something for nothing to someone else.