Question with old computers...

[Elite101]

Does anyone know what you are supposed to do with an old computer (as in like how to get rid of one)?

can it just be thrown out in the garbage or do you have to bring it to like a town hall or DPW or something?

yeahh preferably if someone form NJ can answer this cause their answer would probably be more applicable...


oh and old computer as in Windows 3.1...
sound blaster doesnt work...
must boot off of a 3.5 floppy cause the computer has manny problems...
yeahh there are other problems but those are the most significant...

[KenWittlief]

Is your trash picked up by the town, or do you have a someone you pay for the service?

You need to call whoever collects your trash and ask them. Some landfills wont take old electronics due to the lead in the solder.

It varys from city to city.

[Adam Richards]

Alternatively, you can go out and recycle it:

http://www.crc.org/ (CA)
http://www.supremerecycling.com/ (NJ)

[hoag]

I've seen people take old computers to salvation army donation stores where they are sold for very little money. Someone there may want your old computer.

I have a hard time disposing of my old computers. I've kept my 386 for sentimental reasons.

[KenWittlief]

if its not working dont take it to the salvation army - if you cant put it in your trash can they will have to pay someone to haul it away as toxic waste.

[sanddrag]

Don't trash it! There has got to be somebody somewhere who is just dying to have a computer like the one you are about to throw out. For nostalgia's sake, either keep it, or find it a good home.

[Jay H 237]

Some towns and cities hold collection days where you can dispose of household chemicals and electronics usually for free with proof of residency. The town or city that holds it normally will invite surrounding towns to participate in it also. These collection days are normally advertised in the papers. Contact your town and surrounding towns and see if they hold these.


For proof of residency they usually ask to see your drivers license or a piece of mail addressed to you.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Elite101

Does anyone know what you are supposed to do with an old computer (as in like how to get rid of one)?

can it just be thrown out in the garbage or do you have to bring it to like a town hall or DPW or something?

yeahh preferably if someone form NJ can answer this cause their answer would probably be more applicable...

Computers contain significant amounts of hazardous waste and should never be disposed of like trash. Heavy metals like lead and cadmium are just the start, the ICs, capacitors and some other parts have other nasties inside too.

Hmm, maybe a community service project, teach others how to dispose of their old electronics??

In Bergen County NJ, The Bergen County Utilities Authority runs three collections a year, where they will take your hazardous waste and dispose of it properly. I think it's bcua.com, but should be easy to find. They have a collection in the spring at Bergen Community College in Paramus.

ON The other hand, it's almost criminal to get rid of any computer. Turn it into a doorstop if you must... I actually have two 8086 machines (well, OK, one's an 8088) with 640 k (who'd ever need more?) that I still ue fairly often. One drives my 3D CAM milling machine, the other is used as a 'smarter' dumb terminal for radio data communications (Packet Radio). How 'bout mounting it in your car's trunk and building a way cool car controller - alarm, auto start, locks, and so on....

Yes, I have too much time on my hands. That's why I like FIRST

Don

[Michelle Celio]

If i was in the same state of you, i'd buy it off of ya...i <3 Windows 3.1

But yeah dont trash it...thats bad bad bad.

if your getting rid of the monitor in the trash....take off the power cable and there should be 3 pins...you need to bend the ground one, this prevents it from doing something what i cant remember...but thats what they told me.

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by Fruity Pebbles

If i was in the same state of you, i'd buy it off of ya...i <3 Windows 3.1

But yeah dont trash it...thats bad bad bad.

if your getting rid of the monitor in the trash....take off the power cable and there should be 3 pins...you need to bend the ground one, this prevents it from doing something what i cant remember...but thats what they told me.

CRT moniters are extreamly dangerous, in fact they can easily kill you. I've never heard of bending the pin, but it makes a sort of sense. There is a part in your moniter called a flyback transformer which goes to a anode that is under a rubber suction cupish thing. It puts out 25,000 volts!, and older moniters keep their charge a long time. I think computer moniters are classified as a hazardous material, because of something in therm, can't remember what. The Computer itself is usually pretty benign, lead based solder is probably the worst part (depends how old it is). Old laptops, though, are very dangerous, we actually have one that has something leaking out of it, probably the Ni-Cad .

[Cuog]

You could always mail it too me, i have 3 old computers 2 pre win95 i love the old buggers if it boots and runs somewhat well ill prolly find a home for it

[Elite101]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

ON The other hand, it's almost criminal to get rid of any computer. Turn it into a doorstop if you must... I actually have two 8086 machines (well, OK, one's an 8088) with 640 k (who'd ever need more?) that I still ue fairly often. One drives my 3D CAM milling machine, the other is used as a 'smarter' dumb terminal for radio data communications (Packet Radio). How 'bout mounting it in your car's trunk and building a way cool car controller - alarm, auto start, locks, and so on....
Don

heyyy don... would you like it? i mean its not like you are my neighbor or anything... that would be cool to mount it in my car or something like that... wanna help?? it sounds like you would like too...

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

CRT moniters are extreamly dangerous, in fact they can easily kill you. I've never heard of bending the pin, but it makes a sort of sense. There is a part in your moniter called a flyback transformer which goes to a anode that is under a rubber suction cupish thing. It puts out 25,000 volts!, and older moniters keep their charge a long time. I think computer moniters are classified as a hazardous material, because of something in therm, can't remember what.

Leaded glass in the tube is the primary chemical hazard, though some phosphors can also be toxic. Also potentially dangerous is the significant vacuum in the tube. Don't smash a CRT from the back; it can blow the front out, as the air rushes in. And he's dead on regarding the flyback transformer. Don't go near the inside of a CRT without proper training and tools.