Donating Used Computer Equipment - Some Things That Need Considering
The best way to go about disposing e-waste (old computers and other electronic goods) is a subject that has taken on increasing relevance in recent years – with e-waste being among the fastest growing types of waste in the world. Certainly this type of equipment does need to be disposed of and it needs to be disposed of in a thoughtful fashion. By not disposing this type equipment and therefore storing it a business exposes themselves to storage, administration and security compliance costs. And if the equipment is disposed of thoughtlessly, then there is the very high risk of it ending up in landfill where its various toxic elements can leach into the environment. If the computer equipment in question is greater than 5 years old, the best course of action is to make contact with an authorized computer recycler who will dispose of it in such a manner that all useable parts are extracted and hazardous materials safely removed. If however, the equipment in question is under 5 years of age and still useable then you may want to look at donating it. Certainly institutions such as schools and non-profit organizations are always on the lookout for second hand computer equipment. Rather than donate your computer equipment directly to a charity or school, it is usually best for all parties involved if you can send it to a refurbisher. Refurbishers will ensure that equipment they send to nonprofits and schools works properly and runs legal copies of software. They will also ensue that any e-waste is disposed of properly. A refurbisher can also make sure that all hard drives are properly wiped before the computer equipments falls into somebody else’s hands. It can be a good course of action to first call the refurbisher or check its website to ensure that they accept the type of computer equipment you’re planning to give away. Some organizations, for example, will refuse anything older than a Pentium II. While you may be tempted to donate equipment directly to a favorite local school or charity, remember that refurbishers are generally the best equipped to repair and upgrade computers. They will then pass on ready-to-use equipment to those who need it, often at little or no cost. You should also look to include accessories such as the keyboard , mouse, printers, modems and any packaged software as part of your donation as they can almost always put to good use and most organizations are really after complete systems. By the same token, to ensure legality for the new users you should also pass along the original disks (particularly in respect to the operating system), media, Certificate of Authenticity sticker, user manual, and other documentation that came with the equipment. Clear your computer(s) of all personal information before sending them to the refurbisher. This is best accomplished using disk cleaning software. Finally, keep a record of everything that you have donated. When it comes to calculating tax returns you will likely be eligible for a deduction if you donate your equipment to a nonprofit refurbisher. Most school or nonprofit refurbishers can provide a tax receipt upon request. Business donors can deduct the un-depreciated value of the computer, and individuals will be able to deduct the current market value of a computer.
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