Pinpoint Reusable Components Before Trashing Old Computers

About Me
Why Do We Recycle?

Hello, my name’s Mark Lindon. I have to admit that I wasn't always the “greenest” person. I was even known to take a risk and litter once in awhile. However, I started to study the effects of waste on our environment and energy, and I was appalled. I found myself reading and absorbing as much information as I could on the subject. Where I live, recycling isn't a requirement. This makes me mad; it should be a requirement everywhere! I sat my wife and three children down and talked about the importance of recycling. I explained that if we spread the word, we would make a difference in the world. My kids were particularly excited about this concept. Along with their friends, they started encouraging people to have separate bins for their recycle goods. I’m going to share more about this for you.

Pinpoint Reusable Components Before Trashing Old Computers

4 May 2015
 Categories: , Blog


If you're moving a full load of computers out of a department or an entire business, there are a few things to take into consideration before dumping everything at once. There are a few components that could be reused and a few ways to perform the disposal easier that could save thousands of dollars down the road for your business. Consider a few recovery points that could help you make the most out of your old systems, even after moving to newer computers.

Hard Drives For Bulk Storage

The hard drive is the main storage area for computers. All of the text documents, pictures, sound files and videos are kept on the hard drive along with your programs and other types of files.

Hard drives use a standard method of connection that can be added to almost any similar computer. The two main connection types are Parallel ATA (PATA, know as the 'rectangle connector') and Serial ATA (SATA, known as the L-shaped connector). There are adapters that can allow these types to be connected if the proper connection isn't available.

Keep in mind that you don't need to force older hard drives to become the new, main drive. It's true that newer drives are capable of higher speeds, and should be used for most of the important tasks such as actually running the computer with the operating system. You can, however, use the older hard drives to retrieve your old information and to continue storing more information. 

Memory Is Easy To Store

Random Access Memory (RAM) acts as a quick supply of the most commonly-used files. Instead of taking the time to search your hard drive thousands of times per second for the same files, the memory sticks can hand off the information without the need to search. Memory falls under the Double Data Rate (DDR) standard, with DDR3 and DDR4 being the most common as of 2015.

The memory generation can be identified by the physical notch on the memory stick, which prevents accidental mismatching of memory. As of 2015, there is an issue of DDR4 entering the market and making DDR3 sticks useless in the newest systems. However, you may still receive new computers with the older DDR3 standard, as the speed benefits of DDR4 are not yet convincing enough for manufacturers to adopt the new standard.

Since memory sticks are relatively small--often smaller than a basic hair comb--it's no trouble to keep all of your old memory in a box with your IT department or equipment storage.

After removing the components you need, you're still stuck with fairly heavy computer boxes. Many states have laws against simply throwing computers onto the side of the road or into garbage bins, as electronics waste management is becoming a global concern. Contact a garbage disposal team like General Waste Removal if you need help throwing out the older systems in bulk.