If you have an old laptop that has seen better days and you are ready to get a new one, you will probably need to start thinking about the various things you can do with your old one. After all, it seems like such a waste to simply toss it in the trash. Therefore, you will want to take a few moments to reflect on some of the following suggestions. One of them might suit your needs the best.
Donate It To A Charity
Even if the charity states that they wipe all computers clean when they are donated to them, you may want to take the extra precaution of doing this yourself. This way, you will never run the risk of having some of your most personal, or professional, information out there for others to see. After all, mistakes and oversights happen. Once you have wiped the computer clean of all personal data, you can donate it to a charity that will perform the necessary upgrades and repairs so that it can be in better working order for those who need it. Depending on the charity, students may be given the laptop or a working adult that is struggling and wants to continue their education by attending an online college.
Turn It In For Recycling
Again, even if the laptop is to be torn apart so various parts can be recycled, you will want to make sure that you are first clearing the hard drive. You can then hand it over to a recycling center that will recycle the parts that they can and then properly dispose of the parts that they cannot recycle. This is a much better option than the laptop ending up in a landfill. Imagine if no one recycled their laptops or desktops. With how quickly people upgrade their computers, it could be a terrible thing for the environment, which is why laptop recycling is so important.
Sell It
Even if it is currently in such poor shape that you can hardly connect to your wi-fi signal, you can sell it once you have cleared your personal information from it. Selling the laptop can give you a little extra cash in your wallet, and it can be put to good use by the person buying it. They might have the insight to repair and upgrade it, or they might have other plans for it, such as using parts of it for works of art.
As you can see, there are plenty of options when it comes to deciding what to do with your old laptop. Remember, if you are donating it, you will want to get a receipt, as you may be able to use that as a write off on your income taxes.
