Short answer: Donate your computer to Human-I-T if it still turns on. Recycle it if it is dead, damaged, or missing parts. Wipe your data before you do either.
If you are not sure which one applies, donate it to a certified refurbisher like Human-I-T, which accepts working and broken computers free by mail anywhere in the U.S. and recycles the ones it cannot repair.
This guide will walk you through your options so you can safely and securely dispose of your old computer with confidence.
Table of Contents
- Should You Donate or Recycle Your Old Computer? Use this table
- Why donating comes first
- When recycling is the right call
- What Human-I-T does with your old computer when you donate it
- Before you donate or recycle: 3 steps
- Frequently asked questions
Should You Donate or Recycle Your Old Computer? Use this table
| Your computer… | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Turns on and runs, even if slow | Donate | A refurbisher can wipe it, repair it, and give it a second life. Reuse beats recycling for the environment. |
| Turns on but has a broken screen, keyboard, or battery | Donate to a refurbisher that takes broken devices | Parts get reused. Human-I-T accepts non-working laptops and desktops. |
| Will not turn on at all | Recycle through a certified program (or donate to a refurbisher that recycles what it cannot fix) | Keeps lead, mercury, and rare-earth metals out of landfills. |
| Any of the above, and it holds personal data | Wipe it first, or choose a program that certifies data destruction | Never hand over a device with your files on it. |
Why donating comes first
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ranks reuse above recycling for electronics.
Extending a computer’s life avoids the energy and materials needed to build a new one. It also puts a working device in the hands of someone who needs it. About 1 in 5 U.S. households still lacks a computer at home, and refurbished donations are one of the main ways nonprofits close that gap.
Donating is also the easier path. You do not need to find a certified recycler. You do not need to sort working from broken. A refurbisher does that for you.
When recycling is the right call
Recycle when the machine is truly dead and no refurbisher near you accepts non-working devices. While you can look for a recycler certified under R2v3 or e-Stewards, you can also still donate your computer to organizations like Human-I-T first. They’ll inspect your computer and, if it truly cannot be refurbished, they will send the device to their R2v3-certified recycler partners downstream.
These standards — R2v3 and e-Stewards – audit where the parts go.
That audit matters. The Basel Action Network placed GPS trackers in electronics dropped off at U.S. recyclers and found about 40% were exported overseas, often to countries with weak environmental rules. A certification is the simplest way to avoid that outcome.
Free retail drop-off options include Best Buy and Staples. Many counties run household hazardous waste days that accept computers.
What Human-I-T does with your old computer when you donate it
Human-I-T is a nonprofit that accepts laptops, desktops, tablets, phones, monitors, and other technology, working or broken. Here is what happens:
- You ship it or we pick it up. We send prepaid shipping labels and boxes for small donations from anywhere in the U.S. Larger donations qualify for free pickup.
- We destroy your data. Data-bearing devices are wiped to the NIST 800-88 standard at our NAID AAA-certified facility, physically destroyed, or transferred under chain of custody to an R2v3-certified downstream partner.
- We refurbish what we can. Working devices go to low-income households, students, and nonprofits across the U.S.
- We recycle what we cannot. Non-repairable devices are recycled responsibly via our R2v3-certified downstream partners, not landfilled.
- You get a tax receipt. Every donation comes with a tax-deductible receipt.
Before you donate or recycle: 3 steps
- Back up your files to an external drive or cloud storage.
- Sign out of your accounts (Apple ID, Google, Microsoft) so the device is not locked to you.
- Wipe the drive or choose a certified program. If you donate to Human-I-T, we handle the wipe and certify it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I donate a computer that doesn’t work? Yes. Human-I-T accepts broken laptops and desktops. Working parts are reused. The rest is recycled.
Is it free to donate my computer to Human-I-T? Yes. Prepaid shipping labels and boxes are free for small donations. Free pickup is available for larger donations.
Is donating a computer better than recycling it for the environment? Yes, when the computer still works. Reuse avoids manufacturing a new device. Recycling recovers materials but uses energy to do it.
Will my data be safe if I donate? It is if the refurbisher certifies data destruction. Human-I-T wipes drives to NIST 800-88 at a NAID AAA-certified facility.
Do I get a tax deduction? Yes. Human-I-T is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and sends a tax-deductible receipt for every donation.
