5 Tactics For Responsibly Getting Rid Of Used Laptops And Computers
Laptops and computers are some of the most valuable gadgets beneficial in our day-to-day lives. But when a laptop or computer becomes old, we wish to get rid of it. Around 20 to 50 million metric tons of e-waste are disposed of all over the world every year.
E-waste poses a huge threat to the well-being of the environment. Therefore, we should invent methods to reduce the risks of e-waste associated with the environment. Browse through the five strategies that will ensure you are getting rid of your used laptops or computers responsibly.
1. Sell
Why would you throw away your old laptops and computers and let them occupy a large space in landfills when you can earn some money by selling them? The money that you gain after selling your old laptop or computer can be used to buy a new model with all the latest features. If you are anything like me, before selling my laptop for cash, I always try to put a proper value on the laptop or computer and sell it for the right price.
2. Repurpose
Your device might be old enough to be used on a daily basis. We understand that it’s annoying when your computer or laptop freezes every time you want to open a program. But your old device still might have some value before it ends up being in the trash. For instance, you can use your old laptop as a digital photo frame. Since you have invested quite a lot in buying your old device, you need to ensure that you are making maximum use of it.
3. Donate
Sometimes we want to get rid of our old computer or laptop even though it’s still in working condition. Maybe it is an old model that cannot include all the latest features that you need for work or school. Throwing away a working laptop or computer is one of the worst things to do. While you may not realize it, there are so many people who cannot afford to own a laptop or computer. You can give your old device to someone who will be happy to use it in their daily lives. You can also talk to a nonprofit organization about donating your old computer or laptop.
4. Recycle
You will find several recycling service providers who are concerned about the environment and recycle electronic products to reduce e-waste. Recycling helps reduce environmental pollution and reduces the cost of manufacturing new products. Some parts of your old laptop or computer can be used to manufacture new products. Therefore, the time, cost, and effort of producing electronic products from scratch will be reduced.
5. Return
If you cannot sell, donate or use your old device in any other way, you can try returning it to the manufacturer. Some brands offer a service where your old device is collected from your doorstep. The brands send the used machines to an authorized recycler who can put your old appliance to some use.
Safety Measures While Getting Rid of Your Old Laptop or Computer
Whether you decide to sell, donate, recycle, return or repurpose your old device, there’s a high risk of data leakage associated with all of it. But you can follow a few safety measures that your data remains safe and secure. Some tips are as follows:
- Back up All Crucial Files on Your Laptop or Computer: Even though you should always keep a backup copy of your files, it becomes ten times more important when you are getting rid of your old system. You can either transfer all your files on an external hard drive or use cloud storage to store all your data. Getting rid of your old system will mean that you need to back up every file stored in it. It might be time-consuming, but you won’t regret doing it in the long run.
- Wipe All Data from Your External and Internal Hard Drive: You need to clear every data that’s stored in the hard drive of your computer or laptop. You need to wipe out the data in a way that no data recovery program can be used to retrieve the data later. One crucial thing that people forget is to wipe out data from the external drives as well.
- Uninstall All Programs on Your Laptop or Computer: We often think that software programs like Microsoft Office are not harmful to our safety. The truth is these software programs save personal data like names and addresses without our knowledge. You should install all the programs, including those you think are safe.
Final Thoughts
The five strategies discussed in this article will play a crucial role in minimizing the amount of e-waste generated in the world. But follow the safety methods before you decide to get rid of your used computer or laptop.
