Resources for Recycling Your
Old Computer Equipment

Apple Computers has a company-wide policy that is environmentally responsible. Apple promotes product recycling through their take-back initiatives and provides step-by-step information about how you can recycle your old equipment through Apple when you purchase a new Macintosh system.

Computers for Schools Foundation welcomes contributions of quality computer equipment, which they refurbish and place in schools as needed.

The Consumer Education Initiative (CEI) is a program developed by the Environmental Issues Council of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). This website informs consumers about recycling and reuse opportunities for used electronics.

City of Chicago. The City recently opened a computer recycling center on Goose Island. This Web page also gives dates and location of neighborhood pickup sites in Chicago.

Basel Action Network’s e-Stewards provides links to locations across the country that responsibly recycle electronics waste. These groups are held to high “green” standards and are recommended by environmental and social justice advocates. (The two locations in Illinois are Sipi Metals Corp. and CloudBlue Technologies, Inc. .)

The Nonprofit Recycling and Reuse Network is a website where individuals or organizations can place an offer to donate computer equipment. Simply fill out an online form listing your terms and the equipment you are donating, and they will post the information on their website.

TechSoup.org has comprehensive information about computer recycling and reuse. They provide resources for those who would like to donate hardware, those who would like to acquire recycled hardware, and refurbishers.

United Recycling Industries, Inc. offers their "Electronic Take-Back Program" for recycling your obsolete or unfixable computer equipment. You ship your equipment to United, where it is recycled in an environmentally sound manner. They can handle personal and laptop computers, monitors, keyboards, external modems, and facsimile machines. The program is available for residents of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa.

UsedComputer.com lists nonprofit organizations that accept donations of computer equipment that they can either use or resell. They are not interested in equipment that they will have to pay to dispose of. This website also lists companies across the country that recycle old electronic equipment.