Computer disposal gets a little easier

Computer keyboard

(Photo by Chance Agrella/FreeRangeStock.com)

In January, I decided to get rid of some old computers and accessories the company my husband and I worked for had given to us and other employees following a major technology upgrade. I took our stuff and a computer my parents had been wanting to trash to a local e-recycling center and walked away with about $4 cash for all of it.

I'd hoped for more than that, considering I'd given them three working (but terribly out-of-date) computers, but I was happy to get the $4 because it was a lot better deal than my husband and I got the first time we hauled away our e-waste.

Back then, which was about 10 years ago, I had recently become aware of the dangers (leaking toxins) that come with leaving your e-waste at the curb along with the rest of your garbage, so I searched online to find a place within my hometown to take it. I came up with nothing. Not one business.

Just as it was beginning to seem that our only option was to pay a lot of money to send our e-waste off to an online recycler, my husband came up with a place -- only it was an hour and a half away. So we made the three-hour round trip, however, because we were not citizens of that town, we had to pay $15 to leave our unwanted computer crap with them.

I'm sooooooo happy that isn't necessary anymore.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with a dead laptop battery.