Comments on: Open Thread: What Do You Do With Old Gadgets?

By: WWD Coffee Break - Marketing, Junk & Rice « Web Worker Daily

WWD Coffee Break - Marketing, Junk & Rice « Web Worker Daily — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:01:03 +0000

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By: Archaeogeek

Archaeogeek — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:33:55 +0000

Having spent a number of years feeling guilty every time I fall in love with a new gadget when the old ones are still working just fine, I have finally decided just to accept that I’m a gadget freak and get on with it. The old gadgets either get re-purposed, or get put in the cupboard until we think of a use for them. Very occasionally they stay around for so long that we finally sell them on ebay (psion series 7 we loved you really) or they get donated. We just got rid of our first proper pc, brought 7 years ago, to a local homeless charity. Also, here in Lancaster in the UK we have this great email swapshop where you can (as the name suggests) swap things you no longer want for things you do, like chocolate and alcohol. It’s a great place for getting rid of old gadgets- there’s a home for everything!

By: Lasse Rintakumpu

Lasse Rintakumpu — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 07:21:27 +0000

Fine points made earlier. You should always recycle your electronics!

I usually stash my old gadgets for later use (e.g. my phone breaks and I need a quick replacement) or give them away to my friends and family. If a gadget i.q. still has some real market value, I sell it online.

Only if my thingy is broken or just such a piece of carp that I can’t either sell it or give it away, I throw it into my “to be recycled” closet that I go and empty every year or so.

By: responsible citizen

responsible citizen — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 06:55:05 +0000

Electronics are considered eWaste and should be disposed of at hazardous waste collection locations. Look up your municipal recycling services. They may handle ewaste. It might be diverted to poorer countries, or to charities that give away electronics.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 06:13:20 +0000

Depending on if it works or not: Usually I just let it take up space. I’ll put it in a container with other tech stuff that I’m not using and just set it in a closet until it becomes relevant. But, if there is some kind of a charity (like there are with old cell phones sometimes) I’ll give it to those, or if I have a friend that just wants to tinker with it and I never use it, I might give it to them.

As for a creative solution: Give it to a little kid to ponder over and explore :)

By: Dave C.

Dave C. — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:03:53 +0000

I’ve got this storage box that holds all my old gadgets, cables, telephone cords, or anything remotely electronic in nature. I’ve never had to dig in for an old phone or pda, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone looking for a length of Cat5 or computer power chord.

By: itsjustelise

itsjustelise — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:05:50 +0000

I try not to keep an item so long that it dies or has no resale value. iPods, Blackberries, and other small gadgets can easily be sold on eBay. Older computer parts can also get sold quite easily, but don’t expect much. I also give away parts to friends who need them. I can’t imagine actually throwing out electronics. I’ve worked hard to repurpose, sell, or give away almost everything.

By: engtech

engtech — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:19:31 +0000

For computers: local refurbishing program for underprivileged youths.

For gadgets, I usually hold on to them until they stop working. It’s always useful to have an old camera / mp3 player around.

By: Thunk Different.

Thunk Different. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:28:03 +0000

Simply put. iGive them away, or chuck them.

By: Andrew Terry

Andrew Terry — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:22:06 +0000

I tend to keep my old gadgets; old cell phone handsets, in particular, are a hoot to look back over. (My first “hand held” cell phone looks like a vhs video cassette with an antenna on the top.) Old PCs can easily be reused (for SmoothWall boxes; dedicated BitTorrent machines etc).

If a device works well for me, I’ll keep it and try to reuse it… If a device *really* lets me down, then I take the Darth Vader approach -”You have failed me for the last time…” – and bin it (yes, Orange SPV E650, I’m looking at you…).

By: Virginia

Virginia — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:15:30 +0000

Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org) is a great place to find people who would like to reuse your cast-offs. Sometimes people will even accept non-working items and bring them back to a useful life. Everything you put on freecycle has to be free for the taking.

By: Kenn Wilson

Kenn Wilson — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:16:19 +0000

I get rid of anything I’m no longer using. Computers are sold, either to friends or on Craigslist, and smaller electronics (mobile phones, network hardware, etc) are disposed of the same way or given away/donated if they have no resale value.

I used to keep stuff like this around “just in case” but eventually realized that it just creates clutter than I can ill-afford in a small apartment. Now I always make plans for the current stuff before I replace it with something new.

By: Anne Zelenka

Anne Zelenka — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:03:44 +0000

I have a closet off my home office that we call the “Fry’s Electronics Closet.” It’s home to computer mice, keyboards, cables, network hardware, and an old printer as well as an assortment of other junk.

I have recycled old computers and monitors at the nearby used computer store. Had to pay a small fee, but it was worth it for the chance to declutter a bit.

By: Mike Hall

Mike Hall — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:50:03 +0000

Here in Portland, OR you can take pretty much anything electronic to FreeGeek. I moved recently and gave them a lot of cast-off electronics, including a laptop with a broken LCD I never got around to replacing when a Celeron 800 was still snappy, an inkjet printer, bales of old cat5 cable, assorted multiples of DSL modems, and a plethora of assorted exotic connectors. Oh … and four gutted towers, two extra CRTs AND a Lear Seigler ADM3A+.

FreeGeek takes the PC-related stuff and refurbishes it, then makes Linux-based PCs out of it. The PCs are donated to FreeGeek volunteers & some non-profits, some are sold in the org’s thrift store. Some are also turned into thin clients as part of an org-focused terminal server package. FreeGeek also teaches classes.

The non-PC stuff is disposed of as responsibly as can be managed. They take monitors for a $10 donation, and have a recommended donation scale for other stuff.

Even if you don’t have something to drop off, FreeGeek is worth a visit. Everyone’s very friendly, the place has a positive vibe, and it’s doing something great for Portland. I’m a fan. Once my wife’s done with grad school, I’ll be looking to volunteer myself.

By: wars128

wars128 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:40:51 +0000

All my old computers have been given to other family members. when ever I got a new computer, out went the old one. Besides that, I love the idea of electronic recycling, or my favorite idea: using all old parts, amke a giant supercomputer using old pc proccesors.