A reader was surprised when his donation was refused recently at a Goodwill drop-off station. He writes: “I bought a new laptop recently and decided to donate my old desktop to charity. I wiped the drive and reinstalled Windows Vista (I still had the discs). When I got there, they told me that they don’t accept any donations of computers. This seems very wasteful to me. I contacted a couple of other places, thinking someone would want a perfectly good PC, but no one was accepting computers. They suggested I go to one of our town’s e-cycle recycling events. Why would they do this?”
Multiple reasons. Outdated PCs like those running Windows Vista post security risks for users. There’s not really much demand for old PCs. Most of them won’t run modern programs. And unless Goodwill has a tech team on staff, there’s no way to ensure that a donated PC hasn’t been infected with malware. Also, disposing of old electronics can be a pain. To do so safely, you really do need to take items to things like the e-cycle events.
Usually can find someone to take working electronics (sometimes even parts) on Freecycle.org if there is a group near you. Freecyclers pickup so you don’t have to deliver.
Keep the computer, you can put extra files on it that you normally don’t want to bog down your main computer with like music files or games {especially for kids} or pictures to name a few. My friend started a part 15 radio station as a hobby. He used his old computer to put music and PSA`s on it. just an idea that has practical application.
I put mine at the curb and by the end of the day, it’s gone. Someone seems to find a use for them.
Hi, Cindy,
First: thank you, thank you, thank you! So happy and pleased that you picked up Tech Tips.
First question: It seems that in order to ‘like’ an article, I must first create a website. At least that’s the page I’m taken to when I select the ‘Like” icon under your article. Is this correct?
Kathy
You don’t need to have one. It’s just a field you can fill in if you happen to have one.
Late last year I was able to donate several computers to Good Will in Murrells Inlet S.C. also Horry County S.C.recycle centers accept computers. As Cyn mentioned maybe some centers are not able to handle them.
Goodwill in S. Florida recycles computers for the last 3 or 4 years now. Before that they stopped accepting them because they contained bio hazardous materials. They were calculating the disposal expense.