EPA press release: “Now that your family has opened the new computers, I-phones, DVD players and televisions, what are you going to do with the old stuff? Donating used (but still operating) electronics for reuse extends the lives of valuable products and keeps them out of the waste stream for a longer period of time. Reuse, in addition to being an environmentally preferable alternative, also benefits society. By donating your used electronics, you allow schools, nonprofit organizations, and lower-income families to obtain equipment that they otherwise could not afford.
Before donating your computer or other electronics, make sure the equipment is reusable. Donation-organizations have limited or in many cases no resources and employees to diagnose and repair hardware. A functional, working system—especially with monitor, wiring, and software licenses—is a lot more useful and requires less upgrading than a nonworking, incomplete computer. Check to see what the donation organization’s minimum computer requirements are (e.g., Pentium processor, Windows 95). Donation-organizations might not accept (or might charge a fee for) older, less useful equipment (e.g., 386 processors, dot matrix printers, less than 14 inch color monitors).”

Where Can I Recycle My Old Electronics? Visit your state environmental agency Web site for a list of electronic collection events and permanent locations.

• Delaware Solid Waste Authority
• District of Columbia
• Maryland
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• West Virginia

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