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Donating, Giving Away, Recycling, or Selling Your Unwanted Computer Junk
The Problem
Do you have a growing collection of “old computer junk”? Does it include old Windows or Macintosh desktop computers, laptops, monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, iPhones, iPads, Androids, flip phones, cables, surge suppressors, USB hubs, printer cartridges, power supplies, etc.? Are you finally ready to get rid of these items?
This is the time of year when many people give money, gifts, and donations to friends, family, charities, schools, hospitals, and more. If you’re thinking about finding a good home for your accumulated computer gear, here are some good options to consider.
Preserve your personal data
Before you give away, trade in, or sell a computer, smartphone, or tablet, have you copied all of your personal data (emails, documents, pictures, videos, etc.) to another computer, external drive, flash drive, or a cloud account? If not, that should be your first priority.
Protect your privacy: Erase or reset to factory settings
Then, have you erased your personal data (and any purchased software) from the equipment you want to give away? If not, that should be your next priority.
This applies to computers, smartphones, tablets, and multifunction printers (i.e., ones that are also copiers or fax machines) because these devices have probably stored some of your personal data, unlike simpler accessories like mice, keyboards, cables, etc.
This is especially important for iPhones and iPads. Apple’s security is so strong that if you don’t properly erase such devices and remove them from your Apple account, no one else will ever be able to make independent use of them.
My approach
When a Boston-area client asks me to help them get rid of their unwanted computer equipment or accessories, after helping them keep copies of any personal data and erase those devices (or confirming that they’ve already done those two important steps):
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Most often I contact my colleague Adam Frost to donate them to his Vital Tools Shared Inc. nonprofit for refurbishing and resale -- See “A great Boston-area nonprofit” below.
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Occasionally I give them directly to another client in need.
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I may also keep a few of the items (cables, etc.) for future client needs.
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Or, if Vital Tools can’t use them, I typically bring them to Best Buy or Staples for electronics recycling -- See “Can you recycle it?” below.
A great Boston-area nonprofit that takes equipment donations: Vital Tools Shared Inc.
In addition to his consulting work, my wonderful computer colleague Adam Frost volunteers with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit called Vital Tools Shared Inc., located in the Boston area.
In addition to offering vocational and educational programs, this small nonprofit accepts a wide variety of equipment and accessories, including computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, cables, and more from people, companies, universities, and others. The Vital Tools volunteers then completely refurbish them and ensure that the equipment is in good working order. As part of the process, those volunteers learn valuable hardware and software skills. Vital Tools is one of the only professionally-guided, hands-on field training operations in Boston.
Then, individuals and businesses can get professional-grade refurbished desktop or laptop computers along with a lifetime warranty, all for a modest donation, which is far less than the cost of a new computer.
Vital Tools also invites anyone in the Boston area who is interested in learning about computers to join them, not only to get directly involved in the refurbishing effort but also to learn more about computers in general and to get help with specific computer issues. Each in-person weekly Vital Tools Clinic meeting also includes a potluck, so you’re welcome to bring food to share. You can also participate via Zoom.
For more information, contact:
Adam Frost
(617) 522-1049 voice only, no texts
http://www.VitalToolsShared.org
You can also contact me, since I donate equipment to Vital Tools on a regular basis, and I’ve also helped a client purchase an excellent refurbished computer from them as well.
Can you give your unwanted equipment away to someone who could use it themselves?
I recommend that you first ask yourself:
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Within the past 2 to 3 weeks, have you checked that it works, so someone else could use it productively?
- Is it new enough to be compatible with current software, e.g., is it a computer or smartphone that’s less than 3-5 years old?
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Does it have all of the accessories that someone would need: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer, cables, charger, ink or toner cartridges, etc.?
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If not, could a young person learn from it, or have fun using it?
Then, how will you find an interested person in your area? You might:
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Ask friends, family members, and neighbors, including adults in general and parents in particular to see if it might be appropriate for their college-age children, teenagers, or young children.
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Ask colleagues you know professionally.
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Post an offer online: Neighborhood groups, religious or social groups that you belong to, appropriate social media platforms, Freecycle, etc.
Can you give it away to someone who could in turn find someone else who could use it?
Some computer repair people or repair shops accept equipment that they in turn fix up and resell, or use for spare parts, as well as accessories, cables, etc.
Talk to your computer support or repair person. They may do that, or know others who do.
Can you recycle it?
If it’s done responsibly, electronics recycling is far better than having your equipment end up in a landfill. Here are a few ideas that I recommend:
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Staples and Best Buy both have electronics recycling programs that have some limitations, so be sure to confirm that they will accept your items, as well as whether they charge any fees for some of the items you want to recycle.
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Call your local Town Clerk or Department of Public Works (DPW) for suggestions regarding donating or recycling in your area.
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See “Where to go from here” below for additional suggestions.
Can you get any money for it?
Unfortunately, this is unlikely for a variety of reasons, including:
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Finding a buyer will probably involve time (Where could you list it?) and money (Online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay charge seller fees), so unless you enjoy that process or already have some experience with it, you may well find that it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
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Even if you found an interested buyer, you will not get what you originally paid for it, even if it’s still unused in its original box and you acquired it a month ago. You might be able to get more if it’s a collector’s item in excellent or mint condition, but that’s a pretty rare situation.
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And even if you sold it to an interested buyer, you may not be prepared for the buyer having problems with the item after the sale.
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From a buyer’s perspective, a new model is a better deal because it’s probably going to be faster, have larger capacities, have a warranty, and come from a known and familiar source.
Here’s my advice: You might get a little money for your item from someone you know, but if that doesn’t work out or seems like too much effort, I recommend focusing instead on a goal with a better chance of success.
Can you get any trade-in value for it?
Some companies offer trade-in credits towards buying new equipment, including:
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Cell phone companies sometimes offer a new phone when you trade in an old one.
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Apple has a “Trade In” program for Macintoshes, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.
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Staples and Best Buy sometimes offer a credit towards buying a new printer when you bring in an old one for recycling.
Can you donate it to a school or hospital or charity and take a tax deduction?
This is a wonderful and generous idea in theory, but in practice there are some big problems. Any organization that accepts used equipment would need to:
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Evaluate whether your donated items are complete and work properly,
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Determine whether they are compatible with their other equipment and general needs,
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And if not, decide whether they will spend more time and money to address those problems or dispose of it.
This is a complicated, time-consuming, and potentially costly process, so most nonprofits are not prepared to do this.
And even if they do accept your donation, you may not be able to deduct it on your taxes for various reasons, including:
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That organization may not actually qualify as a charity in the eyes of the IRS.
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You can only deduct the item’s current fair market value, not what you originally paid for it.
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You may end up taking the standard deduction on your taxes because you don’t have enough deductible expenses to itemize.
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The IRS may require you to do additional things to support that deduction, including getting a written acknowledgement, filling out additional tax forms, etc.
If you’re in the Boston area, as I mentioned above I recommend Vital Tools Shared since they are very experienced, not only in receiving equipment donations but also in helping you have the right documentation to take a tax deduction.
Where to go from here
As always, if this seems too difficult to navigate on your own, I recommend that you find someone you know and trust to help you.
If you’re in the Boston area, feel free to contact Adam Frost or me to discuss what to do with your unwanted computer equipment and accessories.
In the following searches, replace “C” with the name of your city or town or region and “X” with the type of the item you want to donate (Windows computer, Macintosh, printer, iPhone, etc.). In the first few searches below, be sure to capitalize the word “OR” so the search will work properly.
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