Recycle my old laptop (Day 38)

My laptop died in the spring, and we bought a new computer.  The old laptop has been sitting collecting dust for the last six months.  With painting the office, and a self-enforced purge of old and useless (to me) items, the laptop had to go.  But where?

I've been reading about e-waste and all the toxic yuckies that end up in the landfill.   I definitely did not want to add to the problem.  I checked with our city, and it holds an e-waste collection day about twice a year.  We missed it for the spring and I don't want to wait until late fall.

The city also provided a link to the "Do What You Can" website.  "Do What You Can"  (http://www.dowhatyoucan.ca/) is an Ontario Government program, run by the Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES), a non-profit industry organization.  The program encourages reuse and safe recycling of old, used and unwanted electronic equipment.

A quick check on the website let me know that there were 4 stores in my area that would take back my electronic waste for recycling.   I was all set to drop my laptop off there, when my SIL called.  After a short conversation, I found out that her nephew is looking for old computers to take the guts out of for his technical projects.  I offered my laptop to him on the condition that he return the shell and any unwanted components for recycling.  

So my laptop is on its way to help a student with his projects, and then off to a better place where its leftover components will be broken down and recycled into new things.