Computer Donation: A Step To Enhance Your Community

Posted by Horizongoodwill on December 23rd, 2015

Are you thinking of replacing your computer for a newer one, but don’t know what to do with the outdated one? Consider computer donation. Dropping your old computer off at a local nonprofit or charity may be the best way to discard it in an eco-friendly manner. They can recycle and reuse your used equipment so that it doesn’t end up in the landfill. More importantly, they can maximize its life, using it to train people who do not have access to computers or giving it to deserving students who are not able to afford to buy their own. With a computer donation, you can help the environment as well as the community.

For every laptop or computer that ends up in a landfill, there is a missed opportunity to give individuals and organizations the tools and technology needed to narrow the digital divide. Simply throwing away your old computer also harms the environment. Did you know that 75 percent of energy and fossil fuels used by a typical computer are consumed during manufacturing? By extending the lifespan of the computer through reuse, the returns on the initial environmental cost are maximized. If your computer is relatively new (less than 5 years old), there is a big chance that it can still be useful to someone else. A typical computer’s lifespan is 7 to 8 years. Out of all electronics disposal alternatives, reuse is said to be have the highest environmental benefit.

Even if a computer is no longer suitable for reuse, charities can recycle it properly to ensure that usable raw materials are recovered and that waste can be disposed of in a green, eco-friendly method. Just be sure to donate your computer to an organization that has the knowledge to properly recycle or donate computer equipment. Some of the best charities have tie-ups with computer companies or organizations that specialize in equipment refurbishing. You don’t have to pay anything to donate your old computer.

To protect your privacy and security, make sure to back up important information and remove data from your computer’s hard drives before donation. Be extra careful to remove confidential data—passwords, emails (messages and contacts), sensitive files, your browser's cache, history, and cookies, etc. You should also empty your trash folder and remove nontransferable software. One of the best methods of protecting against unauthorized access to your personal data is to use disk-cleaning tools that obliterate all hard drive data.

About the Author:

This article was written by Horizon Goodwill Industries. They are one of the top leading human service agency and networks of non-profitable organization. They serve 17 counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia. Their mission is to help people with special needs and barriers in employment to improve their quality of life through work and related services.