Earning Money Through Recycling

From homes and offices to schools, hospitals, supermarkets, factories, and sports arenas, computers have a place in virtually every facet of modern life. However, they don't last forever, and therein lies the problem.

Like other electronic devices such as TVs and radios, computers contain hazardous materials (and some valuable ones too) and need to be taken to a designated handler for proper recycling and disposal. That's where computer recycling services come in.

As the name implies, these businesses scrap old or obsolete computers for useful parts and materials. The salvaged parts and recovered materials are resold to meet existing demand while hazardous materials are sent to waste management facilities that accept them for treatment and eventual disposal.

Here's an overview of what the computer recycling process entails. 

Delivery/Collection

Old or unwanted computers and laptops are typically free to drop off. However, most computer recyclers do free collections to encourage local households, businesses, and entire communities to recycle their computers. 

If you don't have the time to take your computer to the recycling yard or facility, it can be picked up from your home, office, or other convenient location.

Sorting

Computer recyclers generally expect to collect (or expect you to bring) your computer as a whole unit, including the monitor, keyboard, mice, and CPU. Once your computer is delivered to the recycling facility, the computer, and its components and accessories are sorted by item type before advancing to the next stages of recycling and reuse.

Disassembly

Before any dismantling begins, individual items are tested for reuse.

All working parts are set aside for resale or donation while nonworking ones are meticulously taken apart and separated into their constituent components, such as motherboards, hard drives, floppy drives, laptop batteries, and LAN cards.

Any of these component parts that are still in good working condition will be reused while potentially toxic materials, such as lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium, will be removed and safely discarded. What remains is further broken down into separate materials to determine what should be recycled or sent to the landfill for disposal.

Scrap computers are a significant source of used parts and recycled materials used in various industries. Recycling your computer is an excellent way to make the most of those resources and reduce e-waste.

If you would like to schedule a pickup for your old or obsolete computer, call a computer recycling facility in your area today.