Why Donate a Computer?

There are lots of benefits to computer donation

Computer donation is a process that requires a little research to carry out successfully. You need to:

Fortunately, you can discover all the information you need on this site. Then, you can enjoy the following benefits of disposing of your old computers responsibly:

How Donating a Computer Benefits You

If you are a typical American consumer, you probably have a tendency to accumulate lots of “stuff”. Wouldn’t it be nice to reclaim some of your living space or storage space by getting rid of your old computers? Donate these items now and you won’t have to worry about what to do with them the next time you move.

Another benefit of donating promptly is that you have the option of listing the computer equipment on Schedule A of your taxes as an itemized deduction. This may not seem like much; but take an inventory of all the equipment you would be donating and check out how much you might get if you sold it all online. It could add up to hundreds of dollars - or more. With a charitable donation, you don’t have to worry about shipping all that equipment to a customer or stress about getting paid. Instead, you can just take a straightforward deduction on your tax return.

How Donating a Computer Benefits the Community

Computer donation is something that can make a big difference for underprivileged individuals in your community. There are various groups that may benefit based on the condition of your donated equipment. Schools that don’t have sufficient funding to purchase new computers can give kids the opportunity to learn vital PC skills using equipment that is still in good working condition.

Local libraries can make it possible for people who are out of work to get online to fill out job applications and email resumes. Non-profit organizations and charities can use operational computer equipment to reduce overhead for their own administration. Or, they may be in touch with the perfect recipients in your community for whom a working PC would make a huge difference.

Even a computer that needs some work done can still be a boon. There are some organizations that use this equipment to teach students computer repair skills - and then let each student keep one of the computers they have repaired. Refurbishing hard drives can also be a full time job for some technicians. So, you may be helping support local industry by donating.

How Donating a Computer Benefits the Environmnet

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of computer donation is that it cuts down on electronic waste. Computer equipment contains the following contaminating metals (and more):

  • Arsenic
  • Cadmium
  • Lead
  • Manganese
  • Mercury
  • Nickel

Some of these metals can pose a serious health risk if they leach into soil and groundwater. Computers can also contain PCBs and trichlorethanes - chlorine based substances that are potentially carcinogenic. According to the EPA, 2.25 million tons of consumer electronic waste was dumped in landfills in 2007. Much of this e-waste is made up of equipment that could easily have been reused. So, if you have old computers, donate them instead of dumping them. It’s the smart thing to do.