What's the best way to dispose of/recycle obsolete computers?

[Wonk]

I have an old PMac 7100/66 AV, without a hard drive, that nobody in their right mind would want to buy anymore. It's just been taking up closet space since I "borrowed" the hard drive for use in another computer. I suppose I should have just sold it back then when I still might have been able to get something for it, but now it's pretty much worthless, considering how far computers have evolved since then.

I don't want it to end up as landfill. I'd like to see it recycled somehow, as more than a paperweight.

Any suggestions?

[Philostopher]

1. Our municipal recycling center ...

takes electronics and computers. It's funny to watch, when you go there to drop things off -- there'll usually be at least one adolescent boy there with his dad or uncle picking through the pile for things, I would assume like modem cards and hard drives. We usually take the hard drives out, of course -- too much chance somebody could retrieve information off them -- but we always take our old equipment to them.

[Wonk]

3. AFAIK our local one only does cans, bottles, cardboard and newspapers, but

I'll look into it. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Heyo]

2. If you're worried about dangerous material.....

Everything technically can go into a landfill except for the monitor, the tube has some lead in it.

If you want to recycle the plastic case, you can take that off and put it in the regular plastic recycling bin...

As far as the metal insides of the PC... good question... I'm not too sure about that, but Im sure there are places that will dispose of or recycle it....

I know you said it has no HDD, so that's not a problem. I reccomend always making sure any and all data on HDD's is destroyed (DoD wipe) before disposal...

Heyo

[salin]

4. I saw someone use old mac se's

as planters. Would guess that one could do the same thing with monitors - sort of a funky/modern look to the front door stoop - wave petuenias spilling out of a computer monitor...

[Syrinx]

5. I don't know how old/bad a computer that is, but...

Reckon someone who can't afford to buy a computer might find it useful?

[Wonk]

6. circa 1995, and I ripped out the HD because it wouldn't even boot anymore

despite my various efforts to fix it. That was about 4 years ago. I probably should have done something with it then, but I just stuck it in a closet and procrastinated making that decision...

[RamboLiberal]

7. I know of at least two online places that will pick up

your old computer equipment. Dell is one - they will take any manufacturer's equipment for recycling. You pay $15 per 50lbs. And right now they're offering 50% off. Just Google Dell recycling.

I was looking up cause I have some old junk computer equipment - like 386 I need to recycle.

[Syncronaut Seven]

8. In Oregon try www.freegeek.org

Helping the needy get nerdy since the beginning of the third millenium.

[LoZoccolo]

9. Greendisk has a "Technotrash Can" program.

Like you could put computers and stuff in a tub for them. Link's on the left side.

http://www.greendisk.com

On edit: on second thought, it doesn't have anything about whole computers on there. Might wanna write them to see if they know anything you can do though.

[jpgray]

10. Weird cousin/brother/uncle who has a dozen computers and two dozen cats

They are the preferred receptacle. :D