Dump That Old PC - Company Business and Marketing

Home Office Computing, March, 2001 by Brian Collins

Do you have a PC that's collecting dust or stuck in a closet taking up room? Before your eye wanders over toward a sleek new PC, ship your old computer to a needy school or organization with services for the physically and economically challenged and save a few bucks on your taxes. At the same time, you'll help stop taxing our landfills.

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) estimates that over 315 million computers will be obsolete by the year 2004. If trashed, those abandoned computers will create an estimated 8.5 million tons of waste in U.S. landfills. What's even more troubling is that PCs contain lead, mercury, cadmium, and a number of other persistent bio-accumulative and toxic compounds that can compromise water and air quality. There's a better way to handle toxic technology.

One place that can help is The National Cristina Foundation (www.cristina.org). Founded in 1982, the NCF is one of the largest--and most prestigious--organizations in existence that sees the need to circulate used computers back into society to those who don't have the means to buy one. When you contact the NCF they will reference their database of non-profit organizations and public agencies, and then instruct you where to directly ship the used equipment. Shipping costs and the fair market value of the donated property are tax deductible. The NCF will attempt to place equipment that is up to 10 years old. Equipment older than 10 years will typically be directed to recycling facilities.

If you want to donate a computer to a specific school system in your Local area, contact The Computers for Schools Association (www.pcsforschools.org). The association claims to have placed over 80,000 computers in classrooms nationwide. When you visit the site, click on the `National Program' icon to find contacts in your state to assist in donation.

Goodwill Industries (www.goodwill.org) also accepts donated PCs for its training services. By donating your PC, you'll clear your clutter--and your conscience.