According to StEP (Solving the E-Waste Problem), an estimated 65.1 million tons of damaged, obsolete or simply unwanted electronic devices were discarded as e-waste in 2012.

Much of what we call “e-waste” is not waste at all but rather whole electronic equipment or parts that can gain new life through reuse or recycling. As a resident of the planet we share, we all have a responsibility to recover used electronics and recycle them properly. By recycling products safely, we protect the health of people and the planet.

 

Q: Why should I recycle my computer hardware and peripherals?

Computer hardware and peripherals should be recycled for two primary reasons: The materials in the products can be reused in the production of new products, minimizing the amount of material that goes into landfills and the need for raw materials. Some of the component materials must be disposed of or reused in a specific manner to protect the environment.

Q: I just purchased a new computer, and I’d like to recycle the packaging. What should I do?

A: If your packaging is not curbside recyclable, you may visit your local council to find a nearby location to recycle your packaging.

Q: Are products shipped to other countries for recycling?

A: No. As outlined in the Electronics Policy, e-waste is not exported to developing countries.

Q: What happens to the equipment?

A: Our volunteers determine if an item is able to be refurbished or should be recycled. If it is still useable, we will refurbish the item and try to match it with a worthy cause. If the item should be recycled, it will go through Dell’s recycling process. Systems will be broken down into individual parts and disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. Data and hard drives will also be destroyed.

Q: What happens to my data?

A: All hard drives are wiped of original data. Recycled systems may have their hard drives destroyed. There are multiple approaches to wiping data including data-wipe software intended to overwrite data and physical shredding of hard drives. A number of factors are typically considered when evaluating and selecting the method used to remove data including the sensitivity of the data and the possibility of attempts to recover the data among other factors. Limits of data wipe. No data-wipe process leaves a hard drive as free from unreadable residual data as a comparable new product. We make no (i) recommendations regarding the customer's data removal requirements or (ii) representations regarding the effectiveness of one method of data removal over another.

Q: What is the list of acceptable products you will recycle?

A: Our recycling programs accept common computer equipment, such as: > Desktops > Laptops > Slim Monitors > Keyboards > Mice > Speakers > Printers > Printer Supplies

Q: What do you not take

A: We regret we can no longer take fax machines or large crt monitors.

How do I contact you to donate?

A: Simply contact us via the form

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