What to Do With Your Old Laptop

You are not the only one with an old laptop gathering dust in your home. Many people who buy a new model often let their old one sit under the roof, unused.

This raises the question: How can you find a home for an old laptop that is still in good condition? Here are some eco-friendly options for those who want to clear out their closets in preparation for Christmas gifts.

It can be sold

There is a strong market for older tech, and it’s not hard to believe. You should not have any trouble finding someone to buy your old computer from you. There are many places that will take it off your hands, including Decluttr and eBay. A MacBook Pro that was not working recently sold on eBay for $420, and an iPad Mini third-generation for $150.

It’s easy to list your items online. They offer step-by-step instructions that will help you sell your products without charging a fee. Although eBay does take a small percentage of the sale price it is likely to generate a higher amount than other buy-back sites like Gazelle, Glyde, and ItsWorthMore. Be sure to protect yourself before you give a digital device to someone that you do not know. Your browsing history, bank account information, and personal images are not important.

A factory reset can be activated through the Settings menu to wipe your tablet clean. It’s better to remove the hard drive from a laptop. It’s best to remove the hard drive before you put the item up for sale. ifixit.com has teardown tutorials that will help you understand the process. A screwdriver is all you need.

Recycle it

Don’t worry if you don’t have time to list your used electronics. Ecycle offers year-round recycling in Florida at its several locations all over the state!

You may need to submit a pickup request online in certain cases. For more information, visit the Ecycle.com website!

Dell Reconnect also teams up with Goodwill chapters participating in accepting donations.

You might also want to check out the collection program on Best Buy. Amazon or Apple will give you a gift card for any newer items they have recovered from their trade-in programs.

Donate It

It is always nice to give back and a used computer can be a useful tool for families that don’t have the financial resources to purchase one. Dignity or the World Computer Exchange are two options to help you donate a laptop to a family that is in dire need.

It’s difficult to do homework, apply to jobs, or schedule medical appointments without a computer and broadband. Even an old computer that is only 5 or 6 years old can be given a second chance in a new house. You can search the Digitunity website for a list of hundreds of prescreened nonprofits in your area that are looking to purchase equipment.

You may be eligible to receive a tax deduction for your donation. Tobie Stanger, a senior editor at CR who has also covered taxes, says that you can deduct the laptop’s fair market value. This is the amount it would sell for if it were sold on eBay. A donated item must be at least in good condition to be eligible for a tax deduction.

People who don’t itemize but take the standard deduction can claim charitable donations on their 2021 tax returns. This is possible because of a temporary provision in the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019, which was enacted last Christmas. To help you calculate the value, you can use TurboTax’s ItsDeductible (online and as an app), which values items based upon current eBay prices.

Donate it

Last but not least, if you have a friend or child who needs a computer, you can always give the one you no longer need. You can wipe your hard drive first.

Follow Microsoft’s instructions to reset your computer and remove the device from your Microsoft account. You should also update Windows. Follow the Apple site for creating and backing up (if necessary), signing out, erasing hard drives, and installing macOS.

This post was written by Steven Elia Co-Founder and Recycling Director at eCycle Florida. eCycle Florida is an R2 Certified electronics recycling company in the state of Florida. Our processes and procedures are dedicated to the proper destruction and recycling of your electronics. eCycle Florida is your go-to for Pinellas County electronics recycling.