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Computers
require a lot of energy during their relatively short lifetimes, but it
is a sad fact that about 3/4 of the energy that the average computer
uses throughout its life is actually used in the manufacturing of it. As
we tend to throw away our computers every two years or so, and simply
discard our old ones in a tip when we replace and upgrade them, we
really should try and recycle them to extend their lives and efficiency.
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There are
many ways we can recycle our old computers and the first most
obvious one is to simply sell them on E-Bay. Of course there are
many other ways to sell old systems including a small advert in the
local paper, Stafford
Post, or on other web-sites such as Gum
Tree, or one of the many "Local Village Type"
web-sites such as UKVillages.Co.Uk.
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Of course
you could try trading it in against a newer model as you might a
car. This will probably only work in a small computer shop that
sells secondhand PC's and not the likes of PC World.
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You could
simply ask around your friends and acquaintances to see if
anybody can make use of it, but one of the more socially beneficial
ways of disposing of your old computer is to make enquiries at local
charities who may be grateful of it either to sell it or use it.
There are all sorts of IT training schemes being offered by all
sorts of charitable organisations all round the country who can make
use of an old computer as well and undoubtedly you will find one
near you with a little bit of research. Perhaps one of the better
destinations for recycled computers is ComputerAid
which, although based in London, is a very worthy cause. You can
send your computer by carrier which may cost about £10-£20, but
think of it as a charity donation, because the computers they
receive are sent to developing countries for use in schools,
hospitals etc. The other big thing about disposing of an old
computer in this way is that ComputerAid
use advanced software for wiping the old hard drives. It
is possible to obtain various programs that claim to do this for
you, but the only truly reliable way to destroy information held on
a hard drive yourself, is to take a big hammer to the drive and
literally smash it to pieces! Silly as it may seem, the remains of
the computer can then still be of use in that it's parts can be
recycled and a cheap new hard drive can be bought and fitted for a
few pounds, to make a fully operational computer again, after the
programs have been re-installed!
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More
Web-sites!
Gardening
Tips
By Mrs FM
Hartley.
Unusual
& Old
Fashioned Fruit
Trees.
Unusual
Vegetables,
Herbs & Other
Edible Plants.
Books
By
Alan J Hartley
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