Why Refurbishing Your Computer Like a Car Can Save the World

• Know Your Footprint
• waste
• hazardous waste
• computers

Jeff Robinson has some simple advice for computer owners: “Treat your computer like a car and do some regular maintenance.” In 2006, Free Geek, the Portland, Ore., nonprofit where Robinson works, received more than 15,000 donated computers, ranging from 10-year-old lemons to sleek two-year-old laptops. “Sometimes I open it up, and there’s a hairball the size of a cat in there,” he says. “I blow in it—and suddenly it works perfectly.” Volunteers disassemble most of the computers, salvaging metals and recycling or safely disposing of the remainder. About a quarter of the machines are refurbished—and could have served their owners longer. To extend your computer’s life, keep it clean and perform basic upgrades such as increasing memory.

	Introduction	Overview | Homepage | Podcast
	Inorganic Waste	3 Quick Tips | Ecopod: BMW Garbage Can | The Dismantler | Weekend Project: Remove Your Wood Floor
	Organic Waste	2 Quick Tips | Weekend Project: Build a Compost Bin
	Hazardous Waste	2 Quick Tips | Don't Toss Your Computer: How to Install New Memory | The Refurbisher

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