I have been having several discussions in email about what you should do with recycled computers, cell phones or other electronics. First, do a full assessment of the condition of the hardware and determine if it is sellable?
A good market to check is Craiglist, Ebay? Try posting there if you think you can make money on it. Though understand some online operations will charge fees or percentages of a sale as a condition of final sale. Though you could get some good hard cash!
If you have an item that is older than a decade, why stress selling it? Try selling it on craigslist with a price negotiable in the ad. It might be one of the few places your old technology in the clutter closet might be worth some thing to someone else. As always, be smart, meet in a well lit, public area like a local grocery store or venue to do the final exchange! Never do it at your home, place of business or private area that you would not want some burglar or thief to steal from.
Next try some form of free give away, FreeCycle and other sites offer free postings of offfered items for free. You could also try some form of free ads sites depending on the item and its options.
And finally and probably the best option, try donating it to a local charity! I would first go find a phone book or go online with your favorite search engine to look for contact information (email, phone, address.) Please save yourself the aggravation of driving a bunch of electronics somewhere! Call or email them first to get an idea of if they take the item in question. A couple phone calls will save you the driving around town trying to donate an item?
Also check with friends, acquaintances or your local church members? (if you have that inclination?) You never know what your social circle of friends might have for recommendations. There are so many different options for getting rid fo stuff, it is just your imagination as to what they can be.
Oh, one more thing and vital thing. If its a computer related item, say Desktop or laptop, by all means, PLEASE get some form of software to wipe the magnetic media! There are many options out there for cell phones, computers, copy MACHINES! (have an office? they have hard drives in most of the newer models. Wipe that too) to wipe the data from them. A good search engine with the appropriate model will help to ensure you private data, email, documents, pictures, email and phone trees do not land into the wrong hands.
Be smart, your ID and data is becoming more and more valuable to the criminal element. Please be smart, take the time to do what needs to be done so that your electronics do not betray you.
