Last updated Mar. 1, 2023 by Peter Jakes
If you have an old computer in your closet, you may wonder what to do with it. You could sell it, trade it for a newer model, or donate it to charity.
However, these options require time and effort—and they might not even earn you much money.
There’s a better option to recycle your old computer for cash. By recycling computers instead of throwing them away or selling them on Craigslist (which can get very complicated), you’re doing something good for the environment and helping yourself out financially at the same time.
Here are six ways to recycle computers for money.
Sell it
If you’re looking for a quick way to make some cash, selling your old computer is the way to go. You can sell it on an online marketplace like eBay or Craigslist or for even more money.
And if you don’t mind a more extended waiting period—you can try selling it locally to a pawn shop or another business that will pay top dollar for electronics like laptops and desktops.
Trade it in
The first step is to find a good deal. If you want the most cash for your computer, check out our list of current trade-in prices for old systems at different stores.
If one store offers more than others for your specific model, give call theme if they’ll match a competitor’s offer (or even beat it).
Once you find an offer that works for you, pack up the machine and ship it off to the whitelist hate taking care of recycling it.
Some companies may come to pick up the computer from your home to make things easier on you.
In return for getting rid of this technology, they’ll send an Amazon Gift Card worth at least $100 toward any purchase from their online store—and possibly more if they like what type of computer it is.
Recycle it
“Recycling” is the term used to describe how a computer is turned into something new. To recycle a computer, you have to break it down into its different components and send each of those parts to someone who can use them.
Knowing what type of equipment you’re dealing with can be challenging, but it’s still possible—and there are many ways to about it.
Use it for parts
Could you fix it? Could you fix it? Computer to fix other computers, phones, or tablets.
Let it help repair cars, trucks, boats, and planes.
If you’re not a repair person yourself—don’t worry. Man will sell you replacement parts for very little money (and they’ll tell you exactly how to put those parts together).
t to my doorstep within 24 hours. And did I mention that shipping was free? Yea, free shipping was also included in that deal.
You can even find replacement parts on eBay if you don’t want to wait for them: eBay has tons of auctions going on all day long every single day, so there’s always something new being listed every minute – provided it hasn’t already sold out by the time we see it here )
Donate it
The easiest way to get rid of your old computer is by donating it to a charity school to eat right. Be surprised at how many organizations will take computer condition.
An old machine can help someone who needs it, and you’ll be satisfied knowing that you did something good for the world.
Some examples of organizations or schools that might accept your donation:
- Local charities such as Goodwill or Salvation Army
- Charities serving people with special needs (example: Ability360)
- Non-profit organizations like Habitat for Humanity and United Way
- Schools, including elementary schools and colleges
Turn it into a server.
Use it as a server. If you run a business, a computer no longer being used can be repurposed into a server for your network.
Turn it into a web server. Computers are great at handling enormous amounts of information, so turn yours into an internet-connected web server.
Use it as a file server. Store all the files your employees need on one central computer so they don’t waste time looking for them on their own devices or external drives.
Make it into a print server instead of buying an expensive new printer when you have an old PC collecting dust in the corner of your office space.
This way, everyone can print from any device attached via Wi-Fi rather than having multiple printers around the office, which takes up space and unnecessarily costs every month because they are incompatible with each other’s operating systems (like Windows vs. Android)
if something happens, then no worries; remove all those pesky viruses before reinstalling Windows 10 again) you’ve done this many times because these things always happen when we least expect them to, so don’t worry about wasting money again.
Free computer disposal near me
If you live in the U.S., you likely have at least one outdated computer on hand that is no longer in use, and you’re wondering what to do with it.
You may not want to throw out your old computer, from the sentimental value of a machine that still has photos and files from years ago to the knowledge that other people could be using it for its resale value.
Fortunately, plenty of ways to get rid of your old computer without putting it in the trash can.
Many places will accept free computer disposal, whether they are government-sponsored or private organizations. The key is knowing where to look, so check out our list below.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – The EPA runs a website called eCycling which lists local organizations that accept free computer disposal near me.
It’s a comprehensive organization with listings for all 50 states and Puerto Rico, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding an option nearby.
Salvation Army – The Salvation Army accepts free computer disposal near me and other household items such as furniture, electronics, and appliances.
You can usually find donation centers right next to their locations, so there’s no need for extra driving when disposing of.
Recycle computers for cash near me
Of course, you don’t need to take your old computer to a physical site like one of the ones mentioned above.
You can sell it online through sites like eBay, Craigslist, or Amazon Marketplace. As long as you have an Internet connection and the computer works, you can put the machine up on a site and wait for customers to come calling.
Plus, selling online means you don’t need to pay someone to pick up your old computer; you just let your customers find you on the Internet.
FAQ
How can computers be recycled?
As technology evolves, old technologies are often replaced by newer versions. Computers are one of the most popular modern appliances, but what happens when you need to replace your old computer?
This blog post will explore how computers and other electronic devices can be recycled. There are many places to take your outdated electronics.
Most major cities have an extensive recycling center that accepts computers, televisions, refrigerators, and other large appliances.
If you’d like to keep up with the latest technology, try selling your computer on Craigslist or eBay! You can also donate it to a local school or charity organization.
How much gold is in a pound of computer pins?
A member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), Rebecca Vaile, does conservation work with all kinds of objects, from metal to textiles to paintings.
She explained, “The price per ounce can vary greatly depending on whether you are talking about scrap prices priors.”
As an example, she says that when it comes to coins, they tend to be more valuable as collectibles than as raw materials, so their price per ounce is generally higher.
You can also choose whether you want the price per troy ounce or gram.
A troy ounce is more significant than a standard ounce and tends to be used for precious metals.
It’s essential to know the size difference and the weight difference—a pound (or 453.59237 grams) is roughly equivalent to 31.1035 ounces (or 2,638.7109 grams).
How can I make money recycling electronics?
You don’t need to be a tech-savvy computer whiz to make money with electronics. Sure, many people would love to take apart computers and fix them, but if you aren’t one, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways to use electronics to make money. This article will give you some ideas on how to do that.
Make Money with Craigslist
Craigslist is an excellent place for finding buyers for the items you have lying around. Selling your used phones, laptops, video games, and even accessories like chargers and cables can be a great way to make extra cash. Set up a listing for your item(s) and wait for the emails to start!
Run an eBay Business
Set up an account on eBay, sell your items, and ship them out when someone buys them. It’s not as easy as it sounds; you’ll need to set up a professional-looking profile and create listings for your items that offer good descriptions and high-quality photos.
Why are computers recycled?
Computers are recycled for several reasons, some of which you may already know. If not, computer recycling is an environmentally responsible way to dispose of computers and can save you money.
-Old computers can be reused and refurbished. Many companies will take old computers off your hands, clean them up and make them good as new. Unfortunately, many still operate on Windows XP! This can be a good option if you want to keep your computer but don’t want to spend money on a brand new one.
-Recycling is good for the environment. When you recycle a computer or other electronics, you do your part to help conserve natural resources and reduce pollution.
-Recycling saves money. Many people don’t realize this, but it’s true: recycling is less expensive than throwing things in landfill or into incinerators. It’s better for your wallet too!
-Throwing things away is just wasteful. When you throw away something like a computer monitor or hard drive that could have been refurbished or reused, it’s like throwing away your own money in addition to valuable materials that could have been used again by someone else.
How much gold is in the average computer?
How much gold is in the average computer? You might be surprised to find out that it’s quite a bit. In 2014, scientists estimated approximately 2.5 grams of gold in every average laptop and desktop computer worldwide.
That’s equivalent to about $100 worth of gold, which is not bad for something you can easily throw away when upgrading your technology in a few years!
Since 2009, the amount of gold used in computers has risen as more people buy laptops and desktop computers with more advanced features and better graphics.
The more expensive the computer, the more gold it is likely to have inside it, but even low-end computers usually contain at least a few grams of precious metal.
Anyone who has ever had to replace their hard drive or RAM after years of use will know this—the old parts and pieces often have a thin layer of gold on them, although they aren’t enough to be worth selling on their own.
How do e-waste management companies make money?
How do e-waste management companies make money? While you might not think about it, there are so many electronics in landfills that most of them can’t be adequately dealt with.
Most of the time, electronics are thrown out with the rest of your household trash. But unfortunately, it’s not so simple to dispose of electronics responsibly.
There are many different components in a typical electronic device that need care regarding disposal. Specialized companies like us ensure that e-waste is disposed of correctly.
Many people wonder how we make enough money to stay in business. The truth is that we make money by selling parts from the devices that come into our facility.
We call this recycling and reuse, but some people call it scavenging. I don’t think it’s right to contact us scavengers, as we provide a valuable service by recycling all kinds of electronics.
Often, a part can be used repeatedly to help keep something working – sometimes over and over again.
For example, we once took an old computer that was being thrown out and sold the hard drive for $150, even though the computer itself was worth only $20. Not only that, but we donate working equipment to charitable organizations.
Summary
If you have an old computer lying around, don’t just throw it in the trash. Many more options can help you make money with your old computers.
Some of these methods will give you cash, while others will help you get rid of your old computers and still make good use of them.
Here are some things to consider when deciding how to recycle your computer:
Don’t just throw it away. If the device is still working, there may be someone who could use or fix it for free; if not, donate it somewhere that needs computers and people who can fix them (such as schools).
Don’t just give it away or sell it for next to nothing—you might give away something valuable! Instead, ask yourself why someone would want this particular piece before selling or donating them; otherwise, they could go straight into another landfill site once they’re broken down beyond reparability status, which defeats the purpose of recycling altogether.
There are a lot of ways to recycle your old computer. You can sell it, trade it in, donate it or even turn it into a server. Whatever option you choose, you will be helping the environment by keeping electronics out of landfills and making some extra money while at it.
