Solution Number One: Actually Recycle It

There are programs that allow you to recycle computers and other electronics. We’ll be honest with you though, this process can be a royal pain in the hard drive. Aside from the fact that it doesn’t happen at your local recycling stop off, you also have to be aware of the fact that, unless you’ve tanked your hard drive first, you’re putting yourself at risk of ID theft since e-waste smuggling is, sadly, a real thing. So, step one if you’re going to recycle that computer is to eliminate all the data on the hard drive (consider Eraser for a quick solution).

You can use your local recycling center if they accept e-scrap (call them). But also be sure to ask them where that e-scrap ultimately ends up. If they seem like they don’t know, be worried that they’re finding a way to ship it into China or another third world country. However, if your computer manufacturer offers the opportunity to send your computer back, that is your safest and best bet. Dell, Gateway and Apple ALL have programs such as this that you can use (and the links lead to the information pages!). You can also use the amazingly handy e-cycling database to find a place to recycle electronics near you.

Solution Number Two: Donate It to a Good Cause

Schools, shelters, after-school programs, community centers…we could start a list here of all of the places that constantly need new computers, but it would take up the entire page. Surely you can think of a few right off the top of your head. And you can go directly to those places and offer to donate your computer. We suggest, however, that you instead go to a group that specializes in refurbishing older computers for non-profit and need-based organizations. If you have a Microsoft product, you can probably find a refurbisher near you via the Microsoft Registered Refurbisher site. If you’re lucky and you live in Oregon, FreeGeek is your best solution. Otherwise, you may be looking at going directly to the organization.

Solution Three: Resell It

eBay can be your friend here! You’d be surprised how many people will happily take your five-year-old machine. eBay actually partners with the Rethink Initiative, so you’ll get step-by-step guidance on how to resell your old electronics, either on e-Bay or at a land-based outlet. It’s really a simple process, and you can get some beer money.

We prefer that you donate it to a good cause (a struggling kid needs it more), and right now we’re wishing we had the time to start a non-profit that took your old laptop and gave it to a kid (though we’re sure those exist and we just can’t find them on the information super highway).

Solution Four: Turn It Into Your Home Jukebox

Instead of getting rid of it, consider keeping that computer and using it for nothing but your digital media collection. It will save you from the transfer penalty if you’re an iTunes user (because none of us would illegally download music or media!), and it will keep your new machine less crowded. As we all switch to our computers for our media collections, keeping your older machine to be only a media machine seems like a better and better idea.

Solution Five: Get Creative

We’ve all seen art made of old electronics. Let your creative soul go and figure out what you can really use those parts to create. Jewelry made of keyboard buttons or hard drive wires? Throw a blanket over your hard drive tower and turn it into an end table? The possibilities are really endless, and that means that you’re not putting more e-scrap into the world.

Ok, that last idea was a stretch, but you may have some fantastic ideas for making that old laptop into “art.”

However you do it, don’t let us catch you throwing last season’s iPad or laptop down your trash shoot. We will come to your home. We will travel with you to an e-scrap dump in China. We will leave you there!