So you’ve had your computer for many years and it decides to stop working. If your computer has started freezing or slowing down, and it’s too much to deal with. You go out and buy a new computer and you’re back online and back in business. What do you do with your old computer?

Each year millions of people are asking themselves the same question.

In this day and age of being green and being environmentally responsible and safe, you can’t just throw your computer away. It’s full of harmful toxic chemicals including lead and mercury that release dioxins if they are burned. Old computers aren’t going to do any good to the land if you just throw them in the trash or they end up in a landfill.

Let’s be green and responsible! There is a Computer Take Back Campaign that helps people safely recycle their old computer. It turns out that some manufacturers will take back your old computer when you buy a new one.

Dell will take back your old computer to recycle it for you even if you aren’t buying a new computer from them. Check out their requirements on their website to see what you need to do to recycle your computer with them.

Many other manufacturers like HP, Apple, Canon and more will take back your computers and printers to recycle for you. Just check their websites or call them for more information.

Best Buy will take back old computers and printers to recycle for you, too.  Contact the local store for more details.

If you computer or printer still work but you wanted to upgrade to a new computer you can consider donating your old computer to a senior center, a school or to a charity that would be grateful to have your used computer. If it needs some work they may have someone that can help fix it and bring it back to life. They’ll be grateful and you’ll be doing a service to your community.

Of course, before you give someone else your old computer, please take the time to clean it out of all private information. Old emails, personal records passwords, credit card information and anything you don’t want anyone else to have access to must be cleaned out and permanently deleted to keep you safe.

For your entire computer needs call or contact Alpha Engineering Associates at 410-295-9500.