How to Dispose Old Laptop

Why should you dispose of the laptop properly?

There are multiple reasons why you should dispose of electronics like a notebook properly.

• Land pollution:

Not disposing of your laptop correctly would contribute to land pollution. Ever since the technology has become more and more sophisticated, a tremendous amount of e-waste has been produced. People throw away previously used machines like their dead cell phones and laptops in garbage which isn’t right. This does not only increase waste to landfill but spread hazardous chemicals that create health risks. Also, when you see the bigger picture, you’ll realise how all these actions could lead to climate change, causing irreversible damage to the environment.   

• Health issues:

All sorts of harmful materials like plastic and metals are used in the making of a laptop. Not to mention the lithium ion battery it contains. Such materials if left in the landfill to degrade can cause major health issues like flu, skin irritation, fatigue, dementia, loss of coordination, cancer etc. The GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions are lethal to all organisms including humans, animals and plants. Your one laptop could become a contributing factor to all these dangers that harm all life on the planet earth.

• Private information could get stolen:

If you throw away your laptop nonchalantly, know that your private information could get stolen. Even if you delete everything and erase the hard drive, your data could still get recovered in case the notebook ends up in the hands of a hacker. Also, if your laptop was a work laptop, then the results could be more detrimental. Given, it could have sensitive information of your company or clients, you may be liable to a data breach and end up dealing with a lawsuit.

• You could be fined:

Throwing away e-waste in garbage is banned in UK, as per the law you could get fined. With many other risks, your money won’t be safe either, given you’d have to pay a fine up to £5,000 at a magistrates’ court, or get an unlimited fine from a Crown Court for not disposing of your E-waste correctly.

The proper method to dispose of the laptop correctly:

Follow the guidelines below to discard an old laptop correctly.

1- Backup data:

The first and foremost step while discarding an old laptop is to backup any important data you would need later. Get an external drive like a USB or a hard drive to transfer your files from the laptop into it. You could also opt for online cloud backups like Google drive, OneDrive, iCloud, etc. They allow you to access your data from any computer, any time anywhere in the world. So, whatever option suits you best, take your time and make a backup. Once you have safely stored everything you would need, move on to the next step.

2- Deauthorize programs that limit use from many computers:

Certain applications like iTunes, Apple books, Adobe creative cloud, etc., would require you to deauthorize the device you’re no longer going to operate to use these apps. It’s due to the limit that’s been set as to how many computers can be used for signing into these apps, you’d need to deauthorize. So, you can use your license on your new laptop peacefully. You may check the guides for each application online in case you don’t know how to deauthorize the specific app you have.

3- Factory reset your computer:

Both Windows and Mac allow you to erase data on the hard drive. On Windows, you can delete everything in one go and wipe the hard drive completely by factory resetting.

You may type “Reset this PC” in the search bar and click on it. When the page opens, tap on “Get started,” you would get two options. Choose “Remove everything.” Further two options will appear, select “Remove files and clean the drive.” This will help you erase everything from the laptop automatically instead of deleting files, software, browser history or anything else manually.

If you own a MacBook, visit here to learn more on what steps you must take before factory resetting. Also, whether you have an Apple Silicon or Intel-based MacBook, you’ll find a guide online on how to factory reset and erase the hard drive.

4- Manually destroy the hard drive if the laptop is dead:

In case the laptop is dead and won’t start, you may take out the hard drive and destroy it manually. Now, here you have two options, either you could contact a professional service provider who’d sanitise your hard drive by shredding or degaussing. Or you may use a hammer and destroy it yourself.  However, if you’d do it yourself, make sure to wear safety goggles and gloves.

Note: If your laptop contains highly confidential and sensitive information, it’s best that you ask a professional for data sanitisation. 

5- Recycle your laptop:

You may recycle your laptop. There are multiple organisations that are working hard to sustain a greener planet; meanwhile, using your laptop to create job opportunities for the unemployed and helping low-income families acquire access to technology. You can also send back the laptop directly to the manufacturer for recycling. Dell, HP, Lenovo all offer recycling service. Apple also offers a trade-in option that helps you get a discount on buying a new laptop. Your other options could be selling the laptop online or donating it to a charity program.

Final Thoughts:

You must know the significance of disposing of an old laptop properly by now. Follow the above-mentioned instructions, so you can safely get rid of it and help create a healthier and greener planet.