How to recycle an old laptop? Research shows that manufacturers use about 320 tons of gold and 7,500 tons of silver to make electronic equipment. These include personal computers, laptops, smartphones, etc. Recovering precious metals from recycled laptops is much easier and cheaper than mining and processing raw material from the ground.
In addition, mining also increases pollution and emission levels. Therefore, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recommends recycling old electronics, including computers and laptops. The question is: how to recycle an old laptop? In today’s article, we will answer this question. Read on!
How to Recycle an Old Laptop
According to the EPA, it is crucial to recycle laptops. For example, if people recycle one million laptops, they can save a lot of energy. EPA reports that this is equivalent to the amount of energy used by 3,500 homes in the United States every year. Anyway, here are a few tips and tricks to recycle an old laptop.
Create a Physical Backup
KVS Computers recommend creating a physical backup before recycling your laptop. It is easy to create a backup using cloud services. However, you can back up important files using an external hard drive. If you have a large volume of data, make sure you use a hard drive with enough capacity.
Reset Your Laptop
Many people send files, images, and videos to the recycle bin and empty the bin to get rid of them. However, this is not an accurate way to delete your files. If your recycled laptop ends up in the wrong hands, they can quickly recover the files. So, if these files contain sensitive data, such as personal and financial information, criminals may use it illegitimately.
Therefore, we recommend wiping your hard drive after you have created a physical or cloud backup. Operating systems, including Mac OS and Windows, offer various tools and utilities. You can use these tools to delete your confidential files and reset your laptop to its original state.
Unplug Peripherals
Unplug all peripheral devices. You can recycle these items with the same recycling company where you will take your laptop. Bear in mind that peripherals or accessories for a laptop contain an external keyboard, mouse, external webcam, and speakers. You can use these accessories with another laptop if they are in good condition. Besides, you can also donate peripherals to your family member, relative, or friend.
Remove the Battery
How to recycle an old battery? Some companies offer recycling services for rechargeable batteries. However, it is crucial to take your laptop’s battery out. Packing it separately is a wise approach because the battery contains hazardous materials. Make sure you place tape over the battery terminals. The purpose is to reduce or eliminate the hazard of short-circuiting while transporting your laptop to the recycling center.
How to Recycle an Old Laptop – Final Words
Recycling your old laptop can keep hazardous material out of landfill sites. In addition, it benefits the environment and the community. That’s why recycling is a much better option than disposing of your old laptop. KVS Computers is a reputable company that offers electronic recycling services. Contact us today for quality, reliable, and secure laptop recycling.