The accumulation of electronic waste is a problem that virtually everybody in residential, commercial, and industrial settings has to deal with on a regular basis. Rather than tossing tons of material into the landfill, computer recycling offers an eco-friendly alternative. There are lots of ways to tackle the problem, and here are four worth considering.

Repurposing

Before you ship your computers off to the recycling company, you may want to consider repurposing them. While a PC from 10 years might not be the killer office productivity engine or gaming machine it once was, it can still pull a lot of duty. Many computer owners retire their computers into backup roles on their networks, such as configuring them as email servers, junk mail and ad filters, media centers, or file servers.

Revitalization

Another solution is to simply get more life out of a machine. For example, lightweight operating systems such as Chromium OS can be installed to ensure that older hardware can keep up with today's demands. It won't suddenly make your old laptop into a speed demon, but it will allow you to check emails, use social media, and even watch videos. Even units that have apparently dead batteries can be recovered. While it will eventually end up in the hands of a recycler, the longer you can keep a system in circulation, the more you'll spread its environmental footprint out over the years.

Cannibalization

Pulling parts from aging systems is a time-honored tradition in the computing world. Some components, such as flat-screen monitors and optical drives, are easily reused in other systems. They also can be stored for spare parts.

More aggressive users may go an extra step by desoldering components from dead circuit boards. If you have a use for capacitors in particular, an old computer can be a mine. Likewise, you may be able to cannibalize good capacitors from one board to restore another to life.

Donate

Schools and non-profit organizations are often in need of computers. If you have a unit that's still in working condition, you can ask around to find out who needs systems. In some instances, these machines may even serve as write-offs for donors. This is an especially good approach if you're not comfortable with some of the more tech-savvy solutions on this list. Just make sure you get a receipt for the item so you can put it on your taxes.