When we’re done with food items, they get tossed into the trash or compost bin. If we have old clothing, we know there are plenty of places nearby that accept donations. But some people are surprised to find that special precautions should be taken when dealing with old technology. If your laptop or desktop computer is on its last legs, you might think you should just toss it in a garbage bag and let the local sanitation workers take it to the dump. However, there are several key things to consider.
At Sgt. Scrap, our E-scrap experts help people in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and parts of New York with responsible recycling. Here, we’ll discuss how to dispose of old computers and why it’s important to do it the right way.
Things to Consider When Dealing With E-Scrap
Unlike other waste, E-waste or E-scrap requires special treatment to dispose of properly. While older computers and other pieces of technology may sometimes be traded-in or sold when they’re no longer usable, you shouldn’t simply throw them out. Here are just a few reasons:
Personal Data
Your computer houses a lot of private information. There’s a good chance you’ve used it for taxes, budgeting, or work, resulting in your address, medical information, phone numbers, and bank details being stored. You also may have passwords or account numbers saved on it somewhere. While you might think you can simply delete files and clear your history to remove all traces of your personal data, wiping or destroying your hard drive is necessary to protect against information theft.
Environmental Impact
Many people don’t realize the interior of a computer contains toxins. The cadmium and mercury found inside old computers can be harmful to the environment and even affect soil, water, and the atmosphere. This is why you don’t simply want your old technology ending up in a landfill. Unfortunately, throwing out computers or giving them to unqualified E-scrap recyclers will likely result in them wasting away in the dump, only to release these substances into the surrounding area.
Recycling Options
It’s important to realize that, while a computer may seem like it’s unusable to you, it can be salvaged. Many tech-based companies, including the team at Sgt. Scrap, can work to refurbish or reuse parts from your old computers. This helpful process gives new life to old technology and allows those looking for a more affordable option to get the devices they need at prices they can afford.
How Sgt. Scrap Can Help With E-Scrap
If you have an old computer lying around that you don’t know what to do with, bring it to our highly skilled team. Not only will we work to find as many usable components as possible for refurbishment, but anything we can’t salvage will be properly recycled at our scrap yards in New Jersey. Here are just some of the computer parts we accept:
- Circuit boards (clear green boards, non-green boards, low-grade non-PC boards, and hard drive PC boards, which can contain trace amounts of copper, gold, and platinum)
- CPU chips
- Memory chips, which often contain gold and palladium
- Servers and hard drives
- Laptops
- Computer towers
If you’re concerned about convenience, Sgt. Scrap is dedicated to making the process go smoothly. You can simply drop off items at either of our locations or, if you have at least 500 pounds of non-ferrous materials, take advantage of our mobile pickup service and skip the drive. You can even borrow a roll-off dumpster (20, 30, or 40 yards) if you have at least 5,000 pounds of scrap materials.
Reach Out to Sgt. Scrap for Responsible Computer Recycling
Your unused computer won’t do any good wasting away in your basement or garage. Rather than sending it to a landfill to expel toxins, people in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and parts of New York should bring old computers to the professionals at Sgt. Scrap. We are a reliable recycler of E-scrap, including smartphones and flat-screen TVs, as well as wheels, insulated wire, and a wide selection of metals. We proudly offer highly competitive pricing, so you know you’re getting a great deal. For more information, contact us today.