Q: I’ve been meaning to send this to you since I read the letter on what to do with old computers. There are two (that I know of) nonprofits that take old computers, clean them and repurpose them for people who do not have them.
The first is Denver Tech For All. The founder is Rose Keating. I’ve mentored at East High School, and it has supplied my students with great computers.
The second is PC’s for People. I know both of them use workers with developmental disabilities to help disassemble the computers. I thought this might be better than just recycling in the typical way. — Denise Gilwa
A: Thanks Denise! You weren’t the only reader I heard from about where to recycle old technology. I saved all the suggestions to share with readers just in time for Earth Day, which is Friday.
In Colorado, it’s been illegal since 2013 to dump computers in the trash because they end up in landfills. That includes computers, monitors, printers, fax machines, DVD players, VCRs and devices with a display.
Fines are up to $10,000 a day. As of last week, no penalties had been assessed related to the residential e-waste ban, says Wolfgang Kray, the environmental protection specialist for the state’s Department of Public Health & Environment.
Being Earth Day week, Kray suggests checking city websites for discounts on recycling computers and other e-waste.
The city of Denver, for example, offers a coupon to residents for a discount from Metech Recycling. Instead of $20, a computer monitor will cost $5 to recycle. Get the coupon at dpo.st/denverewaste and drop off electronics at Metech’s facility, 500 W. 53rd Place in Denver.
To make it easier on readers who want to do right by Mother Earth, I’ve compiled an incomplete list of places to take your e-waste junk. Some might charge a fee, while others take it for free in hopes you’ll buy something else.
Non-profit recyclers
• Denver Tech For All accepts computers and laptops in any condition for no charge. The organization scrubs the hard drive of personal data and then refurbishes the PCs or recycles the parts. PCs are donated to children who need one. Details are at denvertechforall.org. To make a drop-off appointment, call Rose Keating at 303-989-2832.
• Sustainability in Arvada and Denver recycles “anything with a cord or battery!” The organization will accept some e-waste at no charge (computer towers, laptops, cellphones, iPods, ink cartridges and loose cables or wires) and charges $0.15 a pound for many other items. All details are on its website at sustainability-recycling.com. Drop-off locations are at 1270 S. Bannock St. in Denver and 6240 W. 54th Ave. in Arvada.
• BlueStar Recyclers accepts almost all e-waste but charges a fee for some items. Fees are used to pay employees, many of whom have a disability or are on the autism spectrum. Electronics are refurbished or used for parts. BlueStar provides no-cost or low-cost PCs to low-income families via its PCs for People store in Denver, at 953 Decatur St., Suite C. The Denver facility also accepts unwanted electronics. A second location in Colorado Springs is at 100 Talamine Court. And BlueStar now picks up old TVs at customers’ homes. Call 303-534-1667 for a quote and to schedule pickup.
• Goodwill Good Electronics accepts PCs and most electronics — but not TVs. The organization wipes computers of data to U.S. Department of Defense standards. The goal is to recycle or refurbish PCs and sell them at its thrift stores
Retailers and manufacturers
• Staples stores accept a variety of e-waste for free — with a limit of seven items per customer per day. But the store won’t take everything, including batteries and televisions. A complete list is at staples.com/recycling. It also has a trade-in program that will pay customers in Staples eCash cards for electronics it deems acceptable. And it pays $2 in “Staples Rewards” for each ink or toner cartridge.
• Best Buy accepts a variety of e-waste, including rechargeable batteries and appliances. Some fees apply, like a $25 charge for TVs. Details at bestbuy.com/ recycle.
• King Soopers has EcoATM machines at certain locations that let users sell their old mobile phones, MP3 players and tablets to the highest bidder. The machine tests the electronic device. And if it passes a usability test and there’s a buyer, you get paid on the spot. Find locations at ecoatm.com/locator.
• Office Depot and OfficeMax offers three sizes of cardboard boxes for $5, $10 or $15. Cram as much old electronics in them as you can and bring the unsealed box to the store. Details at dpo.st/officedepotewaste.
• Dell will pick up any old Dell computer product for free. Details are at dpo.st/dellrecycle.
Other local options
• Techno+Rescue in Aurora is a certified electronics recycler and data destruction company. Details at technorescue.com.
• R2 Stewardship has recycling centers at 5971 Broadway in Denver and 5809 S. Broadway St. in Littleton. It also offers pickup service for a fee, and it will fix your computer. Prices vary. Details at r2stewardship.com.
• The Wireless Alliance in Boulder has recycling bins in all 50 states at stores such as Goodwill, Savers, Verizon and AT&T locations. Accepted electronics include mobile phones, iPods, digital cameras, chargers, phone batteries and phone accessories. When the box fills up, the merchant puts the postage-paid label on the box and ships it to the company. More details at thewirelessalliance.com.
• The Boulder U-Fix-It Clinic, sponsored by Eco-Cycle, hosts sessions on how to fix old computers and other appliances. Upcoming events are posted at boulderfixitclinic.org.
Tips on recycling e-waste
• Back up your data
• Scrub all personal details from the device you plan to recycle. Some recyclers do this for free or for a fee. Users can physically destroy the hard drive or use software like Darik’s Boot and Nuke at dban.org. A CNET guide for deleting data on mobile phones is at dpo.st/deletemobiledata
• Check Colorado’s official list of registered electronics recyclers at dpo.st/ewastecolo
