Friday, 31 December 2010 09:42
Did you get some cool new gadgets for Christmas? Did you treat yourself or your office to an upgraded computer or phone? Are you now faced with the question of what to do with your old one? No need to let it gather dust because you know you shouldn't toss it in the trash but aren't sure what to do with it. When it comes to ridding yourself of old electronic equipment, you have several options that are charitable, eco-friendly, and simple to do.1. Pass it on to someone you know that needs it. If the item is in working condition, like a cell phone, computer monitor, or television, ask your family members, friends, and co-workers if they or someone they know could use it. A young adult going off to college or moving into their own place might be happy to have a working television, even if it's not the latest flat screen blue-ray T.V. A senior citizen on a fixed income might not have the funds to buy their own computer but would be thrilled with something they could use to check emails or peruse the internet. Your old cell phone might be an upgrade for a teen-ager. Ask around and you may find someone eager to take your gadget off your hands.
2. Donate it to charity. If the item is a computer, monitor, printer, television, or other electronic equipment, aside from a cell phone, you can always drop it off to your local Goodwill store. These are Nationwide and usually sell the item and the money benefits various local charities. For drop off locations nationwide, go here.
Another worthwhile cause that could really use computers and other electronic equipment is World Computer Exchange. This charity provides computers to schools and universities in underprivileged countries. They have drop off locations in many states and Canada. If there isn't a location near you, you can ship the item to them - a little extra effort, yes, but a worthy cause. For information about specific electronics they need, and locations, go to their website.
If your unwanted item is a cell phone, there are many donation opportunities. Cell Phones For Soldiers provides cell phones to soldiers overseas so they can call home. There are drop off locations nationwide. Go to their website for more info or the nearest location to you.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence also welcomes cell phone donations. Most of the phones they receive are refurbished and resold and the funds benefit victims of domestic violence. They accept group donations or single phones, and even provide the shipping label on their website. Just slap it on your package, drop it in a mailbox and you're done. For more details, go to their website.
An excellent resource for charities that accept donations of electronic items is Earth911.com. At their website, you can key in the type of item and your zipcode and a list of charities and recycling locations near you pops up. Many of them will even pick up. How easy is that?
3. Recycle it. if your item is not working, or so ancient you can't think of anyone that wants it, then recycling is your best option. Home Depot and Lowe's accept used cell phones for recycling. Many cell phone stores will take any brand of cell phone to recycle. Call one near you and just ask.
Best Buy stores have kiosks where you can drop in your cell phone. At their customer service desk, they accept computer monitors for $10.00 and in exchange you get a $10.00 gift card for their store. They also take televisions, cables, game consoles, ink cartridges, and other electronic items. They do limit you to 3 items per household. For details and locations, go to Bestbuy.com. They also have a trade-in program that might be what you're looking for. For more information on that program, go here.
Staples stores accept computer monitors for $10.00. They don't charge for Dell monitors. They also accept computer mice, modems, speakers, office machines, and phones. For more details, go to their website.
Earth911.com lists many other recycling locations for various electronics as well as other items. Put your old computers and gadgets to good use!
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You'll find a variety of topics here on the Digital Matrix blog. As a provider of technology services for both the direct mail industry and small to medium size businesses, we strive to provide timely and useful information for all of our customers. You'll also find that our blog is a collaborative voice of the whole team here at DMI. If you have a question for us, or a suggestion for future posts, feel free to email us and let us know your thoughts. We value your input.
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