As technology progresses each year, new features and upgrades are introduced in smartphones, computers, or laptops. Nowadays, more and more people are looking to invest in newer models that might be faster or have a longer battery life than the previous ones. When consumers buy a different laptop or computer, they tend to discard the older machine or store it away.
You may not even realize it, but the old laptops in your garage can still be quite helpful. Here are a few ways to dispose of old devices without sending them to waste.
Save the Environment
With rising e-waste and chemical waste, it has become very important to control the amount of electronic equipment in a landfill every year. Nowadays, there are a lot of people who prefer to recycle their old laptops or computers. If you have a used device in your garage, you can certainly consider safely recycling and disposing of the machine.
The process is usually quite simple, with free shipping. All you have to do is enter the details about the device and highlight its condition. Maintaining transparency and picking the right option for the laptop’s condition is important. If you are confused about the process, you can always get in touch with support and ask any questions.
Donate Used Laptops
This is becoming quite popular as many non-profit organizations are getting involved and raising environmental awareness and accessibility. Consider the first factor here for a moment. According to a report, the amount of e-waste globally is expected to reach 74 million tonnes by 2030.
By donating your old laptops to schools, libraries, or an association, you can reduce the environmental impact and prevent them from going to a landfill. It is also a good idea to search for organizations making technology more accessible for students and young adults. The old or used machines can be refurbished and given to people looking to learn programming or additional technical skills.
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Recycle Old Devices
When you have upgraded to a new smartphone or laptop, there are quite a few options that you can consider for recycling the old one in your garage. Companies such as Apple, Dell, Microsoft and Lenovo all have trade-in and recycling programs that allow consumers to dispose of their old devices securely. You can find a relevant one for your used laptop or computer and enter the details to get an estimate or recycle it for free.
Typically, people can avail of a gift card for their next purchase if the program accepts the device. In case your laptop is quite old or in poor condition, you can still send it in for recycling instead of discarding it. With time, the recycling industry is growing, and it is becoming easier to locate facilities that pick up electronic waste and break it down to reduce environmental damage.
Use for Parts or Repurpose
It might be surprising, but you can still do much with an old or used laptop. There are valuable metals, accessories, and hardware sold to manufacturers or repurposed in another device. Companies looking for recycled plastic buy the materials to create new products such as tote bags, packaging, or furniture.
So you can sell the machine for parts or take them out to use in various equipment. For models older than five years, an SSD (solid state drive) or a new RAM is available to repurpose the device. Once it can perform the essential functions faster, you could donate or gift it instead of storing it in your garage.
Regarding gaming laptops, the parts are pretty helpful in creating a powerful computer that can support larger files and programs. You can also repurpose the device for streaming only and enjoy high-quality videos without spending much money on a new laptop.
Wrapping Up
These are some things you can do with old laptops in your garage. You can try any one or two to securely dispose of your device and keep the device from becoming a part of e-waste. If you choose to sell it online, you can make some money to help pay for a newer model. It is also a good idea to consider donating it to institutions or educational programs.
