Does anyone know where I can take my (7 year old) computer to be recycled properly? I've call Habitat for Humanity's Restore and they don't accept them anymore.

I would just hate to throw it away in a dumpster knowing there is mercury in there?

Thanks!

Hang on to it until Oct. 1 and then dump it at the Hazardous Waste and Computer Collection.

http://cstx.gov/index.aspx?recordid=7409&page=3083

BVSWMA's Household Hazardous Waste Collection is Oct. 1st from 7am to 2pm and they will be accepting computers and computer related parts, paint, fluorescent lighting, household chemicals, etc. Call the HHW Hotline at 979-764-3809.

Best Buy also has a recycling program for computers.

Hazardous Waste and Computer Collection is the ONLY way to get rid of tired old PC's.

Please do NOT "donate" to a charity because they are now faced with disposal issues.

Old printers, PC's and CRT's do not have any value. Some laptops, newer than 4 years old, have some value.

Cell phones are questionable. In lieu of tossing, I would take to Best Buy and "donate."

I hope this helps.

You can "thumbs down" me all you want, but the landfill will take household appliances for recycling, I've seen the collection area.

Why not the landfill, in 30 years there will an industry to mine and recycle landfills.

Take them to Best Buy. They will 'recycle' up to three items per day.

There is no charge on most items. They do charge $10 to recycle a TV or monitor, but in return you get a $10 store credit.

Edited to add that they will take printers and all types of electronics, but no appliances.

[This message has been edited by ksevern (edited 7/19/2011 12:36p).]

quote:

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You can "thumbs down" me all you want, but the landfill will take household appliances for recycling, I've seen the collection area.

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Please unwad your panties. I was referring to DUMPING them in the landfill.

Yes you CAN dispose of electronics in the landfill. You can also dump them into the ocean if you go out far enough. The far more responsible thing to do is take them to a recycling center. Computers and other electronics are full of hazardous chemicals which can leak out into the environment.

There are programs all over the country which will take your old, broken and unwanted electronics to recycle properly. Sure it might be more convienent to just toss them in the trashcan but why not help keep more toxic things out of the landfill?


There are probably around a dozen or more places in the Bryan/College Station area who will safely and securely dispose of your old unwanted electronics.


Here are just a few:

http://groups.freecycle.org/CSBRYFREECYCLE/description
http://1800recycling.com/
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/Recycling-Electronics/pcmcat149900050025.c?id=pcmcat149900050025&DCMP=rdr0001422
http://www.desktopdisposal.com/collegestation-computer-recycling.php
http://www.cstx.gov/index.aspx?page=917
http://www.keepbrazosbeautiful.org/Environment/Recycling

[This message has been edited by Tagguy (edited 7/19/2011 1:52p).]

FTR ... it is legal to dump electronics. Our landfills have tons of old electronics legally there. Modern landfills are designed to contain contaminants from leaking out and into the environment. They are designed to safely hold all types of waste till Kingdom come.

However it is not PC to dump electronics, and the environmentalists have conditioned us to recycle. But you can in good conscience dump your electronics. You will have at least saved the pollution and power consumption it would have cost to recycle your components.

Goodwill has a program with Dell to recycle computers. I took 80 monitors one time. Not all locations participate though, but I know Bryan does.

Tax deduction!

Thanks everyone! I think I'll just take it to Best Buy so I don't have to hang on to it until Oct 1 (I live in a tiny apartment).

If it is not too ancient - if it can take at least Windows XP - there is a guy on Yahoo Freecycle who wipes the hard drives clean, reloads software, and gives them to families in need of a computer.

I had a pair of laptops so old that he would not take them (they had Windows 98 on them). I erased the personal files (and used CCleaner to wipe them clean) and offered them on Freecycle. I had at least 20 people wanting them. They were enough for basic wordprocessing, spreadsheets, and surfing the internet.

One persons trash...

The goodwill in College Station will take them for recycle.