Question for all. What do you do with an old computer?

I've got an old Mac Performa in storage. Bought it in the late (mid?) 90's and now it's just taking up a lot of room and I want to get rid of it.

It's not worth anything.

I don't want to just throw it in the garbage.

Goodwill doesn't want it

Is there a way of recycling so it doesn't just end up in a landfill site somewhere?

 

See if you can give it to a used computer store... Most larger towns have a salvage type store... if you're in the boonies, your SOL...

Or, you can save time and send it to Hockeygoon. All of Ontario's trash ends up in Michigan landfills anyway....

 

Go on your local Craiglist and put up an ad saying you will give it to anyone willing to pick it up.

 

My county has a hazardous waste pickup day once every few months. Computers are considered hazardous waste. You might check with your town, county (shire?) or whatever your political division is up there.

If you're worried about security, take out the hard drive, rub it against some speaker magnets, then drill a few holes in it. That should discourage all but the most determined data miners.

 

You've seen Office Space, right?

 

Wasn't this a Night Ranger song once?

 

May I introduce you to the Smith & Wesson Model 500.

 

Who's Hockeygoon?

 

I may be a computer geek, but this is time to have some fun! Open the sucker up, play around a little, figure out how to do some of the stuff that will save you $$$ (ie, see how the hard drive is installed, PIMs and RAM chips)... get the lay of the land. You no longer need it, so have some fun with it. Did that with an old PC I had, learned tons. Have an iMac that sitting in a closet awaiting the same fate, when I can get the time.

 

JR,
See if there's an Electronic Recycling Association (www.era.ca) or something similar in your area. We have ERA out west. Not sure about your 'burbs.

 

Gus the Kicking Mule's older brother

 

crap, see if anyone will buy it first. you never know. I once had a Mac 2si that I got $25 for