Recycling 101:

What to do with unusable computers and other electronics

by Ismael Gomez Betancur

A computer that needs to be recycled.

A damaged phone that needs to be recycled.

Computers are considered “unusable” in schools when

​

• It costs more to fix than to buy one ones

​

• They no longer support necessary software and browsers

​

• The motherboard breaks due to being dropped, spilled on, or shaken up

Information supplied by Brenda Doucette, IT specialist

Why shouldn’t computers be thrown in landfills?

In a conversation with IT specialist Brenda Doucette, she said, “Computers should not be just thrown out and placed in a landfill because they are made of toxic chemicals such as: mercury, lead, arsenic, and other toxins, these toxins can leach into the ground and water supplies.”

When a Newton school computer is broken or outdated

• It is marked as “surplus” in the inventory
• It is stored at school until a “Public Surplus” posting is complete
• The school is notified when the post is done and the computer is picked up for recycling/disposing
• The computer is sent to CRT recycling, Inc. which covers over 100 municipalities across New England

• Call 2 Recycle

​

• Newton official city website

​

• Best Buy

​

• Surplus Technology Solutions

​

• Recycle Computers For Cancer

Where can non-school computers be recycled?

​

​

The Apple stores will frequently take back Apple equipment for recycling

​

Below are other companies that recycle computers: