Donate your old computer with New Life Tech Group

Donate Old Computers To Recycle

by The Kids

How to donate old computers

to recycling centers near me.

If you’re here, you’re ready to save the 20,000 pounds worth of raw materials it took to build your old computer!

Not only does recycling your old computer or laptop liberate our burdened landfills, but it curbs the rampant spread of toxic e-waste. If your computer equipment is anywhere between five to eight years old, chances are it’s almost entirely salvageable and eligible for computer donation. Appearances can be deceptive, however, because even if your device seems like it’s expired and ready to be carted off on a stretcher, 98% of your computer can be recycled. If your machine cannot be donated, recycling companies dismantle your device manually or feed them to shredders to break down its components.

The best way to recycle a computer is to hand it over to someone who can use it. Between the pandemic and rising income gaps, globally only 33% of children and young people have internet access at home. Recycling charities gladly accept old electronics from people who don’t know what to do with an old laptop or computer and pass them on to disadvantaged communities and lower income brackets—most of whom rely on recycled computers.

Now that you’ve established that your computer is ready for a new life, you can commence your search.

If your device still has a spark of life, it can be outfitted with new parts to gain a second wind. Charities that accept and recycle computers are equipped to take your outdated computers and distribute them to communities in need. Anything that can’t be reused gets broken down and recycled, keeping the bulk of your e-waste out of landfills.

Start by searching your area for electronic recycling services, and consider boiling your options down to the right local charities. Computer recyclers specialize in reclaiming serviceable computer parts and breaking down what remains while ensuring the safe removal of hazardous and harmful substances such as lead, asbestos, or mercury.

Here are a few tips on how to best go about computer, laptop, and component donations:

1. Gauge Your Computer’s Reusability

Nonprofit Electronic Recycling Center Atlanta Ga

If your computer or laptop is on its last legs but still in working condition, you can take your machine apart, assess it for parts and backup your data on a saved hard drive. You can also make use of a shedding program that overwrites your files and restores the machine to its factory settings. Make note, if you’re working with an old laptop, its battery may need to be recycled individually.

If you are working with an old desktop computer, you can donate your computer and monitor. Be sure to let us know if it’s in good working condition when you donate your old monitor. Don’t forget to gather your old computer components, including your keyboard and mouse!

2. Prepare To Send It To A Local Recycler

If you’re wondering where to recycle computers and old components, start by researching your local options in Lawrenceville. You could run a search of certified electronic and computer recyclers and pick the ones closest to your area, or use third-party search engines that offer categorized search options, which allow users to look up recyclers by location. Examples include:

– RecycleNation
– e-Stewards
– wm.com

You can also look into a local charity, school or library that may be accepting obsolete PCs. If you’re in or around the Atlanta area, we accept old electronics from Atlanta residents and wipe, clean, dismantle and donate them to individuals in disadvantaged communities who can use them.

3. Responsible Hardware Destruction

Aside from looking into e-waste recycling programs or free e-waste recycling events near you, malfunctioning or defunct laptops and computers should go to end-of-life recycling so that your old device can be processed and sorted in order to be reused later. You can safely discard end-of-life materials through take-back programs, certified computer recyclers, and registered refurbishers that accept old IT equipment. Or you can do it yourself by overwriting your drive and degaussing obsolete components.

4. Contact A Trustworthy Recycler Like New Life Technology Group

Recycling services may vary depending on where you live in Atlanta and the condition of your old computer. Be sure to check with your computer recycler to verify whether they accept the type of machine you plan to give away. You can always deep dive and check a recycler’s certifications and compliance records, which most trusted recyclers will have on their websites. It’s crucial to pick a computer recycler that implements good practices, will recycle electronics safely and doesn’t work solely for profit. The impacts of irresponsible e-waste recycling are far-spreading and have a significant impact on our planet.

5. Prepare To Send It To A Local Recycler

If you don’t have the time and simply don’t know how to dismantle your old devices, save them for your e-waste recycler. Most organizations such as schools, nonprofits, and charities won’t accept items with missing components. Everything from the keyboard, the circuit board and the battery to the glass monitor can be handed over, so long as it is intact.

If you have a Certificate of Authenticity, it’s useful to throw it in along with your donation as it can help third-party processors relicense your donated computer.

Nonprofit Electronic Recycling Center Atlanta Ga

6. Give Away Your Computer Or Laptop

Many e-recyclers near you in Gwinnett County will offer contactless drop-off services and will usually have a web page dedicated to the waste types they accept. If you own a business, some organizations also offer bulk pick-up services for a small additional fee.

7. Take Note Of Your Computer Donation

Nonprofit Electronic Recycling Center Atlanta Ga

Your old laptop helps shape someone’s future and diminishes the costs of building new systems. It’s also an eligible tax write-off, depending on the refurbisher or recycler you donate to. At New Life Technology Group, you collect the tax benefits for your contribution!

Best of all, New Life Technology Group is involved with local charities around the Atlanta area and will do our very best to refurbish your old computer or laptop to donate to a local charity to help benefit those in need!

Proud to Serve the Following Areas:

Is your location outside of our radius? No worries, just let us know! If there's a way to make special accommodations to pick up your computer donations, we'll find it!

Frequently Asked Questions About Electronics Recycling

donate your computers to charity Nonprofit Electronic Recycling Center Atlanta Ga

Does Donating Make You Feel Good?

by RecyclingThe Kids
The holiday season is upon us! Yes, another year of giving, gathering and going to all sorts of events, organized or not. For some, it’s a season of doubt, worry, or pain, while others have a childlike wonder every time this season comes around. It can be quite a range of emotions and experiences.
 
While there are so many things to do, places to go and people to see, it made me wonder about something . . . the first thing I mentioned, “another year of giving.” You may have not thought to give, or had any reason or organization in which to give to, so it has not crossed your mind. However, many people take the end of the year to re-examine their lives, their place in life and how it fits with their moral compass. Whether it’s for religious reasons or not, we all have a sense of belonging and decide what movements we want to be a part of and for what reason, and some of us choose to give to others or organizations they believe in and trust. 
 
In this blog, I wanted to explore the reasons for “Why we give?” In just the small amount of research I pulled up, it showed that it truly is a psychological experience or exercise in our mind, no matter who you are. Do you know the number one reason people give? Because someone asked! . . . Now that surprised me, so I thought a little more about it and have this small experience to share.
 
Growing up in a middle-class family in California, I was only exposed to “giving situations” through the church we were involved in. It was usually for a ministry I was involved in or others were asking us to contribute to, or if we had a mission we were setting out for and needed to fundraise to go to said mission. Of course there was the tithing aspect, which also has its place in this discussion, but more of what I was looking to express here are the reasons that compel us to give. 
 
For me, it came later in life after marriage. We were fortunate to live in several neighborhoods of mixed economic diversity, and one city in particular comes to mind because of the homeless population that was evident there.   Almost every stop light, storefront, or fast food joint, we would be approached with the question, “I’m hungry, can you spare some change?” Or “Help a brother/sister out?” For years I gave without thinking, as I almost felt guilted into it. There was no reason not to. They asked, and it felt good, and there was a need in front of me I wanted to meet. Then when I asked myself, “Why?” or “What else can I do to better this situation I was put into?”. . . and it came to me . . . what solves their problem immediately? . . . Food! So yes, I gave because someone asked, but after my self reflection I started to change the dynamic. When they asked, I gladly stated, “YES! I’d love to feed you.” Most times, if it was at a grocery store or a restaurant, I would ask what they wanted and then get them exactly what they asked for. Other times, if I was in a rush or could not take a specific order, I would tell them, “Let me run in and get my items, and then I would purchase something towards the end of my visit that may sustain them, if they stayed and waited for me.” I’d have to say that eighty percent of the time they waited for me to return, so it made me feel like this was a legitimate need and the transaction was mutually beneficial. I have since approached these types of situations similarly in my remaining adult life and have turned the need into a solution, without ever having to question, “Did I do the right thing?”.
 
Whether giving to the homeless is your soft spot, or giving to an organization you believe in is your thing, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you solve the reason or answer the question to why you choose to give. Here is a list of other reasons people give. Check it out and see if any of these reasons ring true for you:
 
Social Dynamics – Because society deems it necessary and responsible to do so.
Altruism – Something inside of you says it’s the “right thing to do.”
Trust – You actually believe your gift will do what it was purposed to do.
Impact – You want to make a difference in someone’s world.
Goal Proximity – There’s a goal or financial need to meet.
Overcoming Difficulty – Making sure someone gets what they need to move forward.
Egoism – To receive personal benefit or satisfaction.
FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out (the fear is real).
 
Check out the psychology behind these reasons and how organizations can work to answer or champion these reasons to make giving truly worth it again.
 
Should you choose to donate to our cause this year, whether it’s this time of year or you make plans to give in the months to come, New Life Technology Group has a gift for your donation. We want to start a movement. One that all people, both young and old can get behind. Our mission is two fold; to keep e-waste out of our landfills AND to give back to our community by donating refurbished laptops to students in remote learning situations through our Computers For Kids Program. Would you consider being part of our movement?
 
We have five ways to partner with us:
5) Drop off your consumer/personal electronic waste at our Alpharetta office (M-F 8am – 4pm)
what to do with your old computer Nonprofit Electronic Recycling Center Atlanta Ga

To Plan Or Not To Plan

by with No Comment How ToRecyclingThe Kids

Let me guess, you haven’t made your plans for how you are celebrating NYE?

“It’s October!” you say, “Give me a break! I don’t even plan for events two weeks in advance, let alone 2 months.” It’s OK, I do become OCD on things like this, especially big holidays or events that I know the choices will become endless, but I usually have an idea of what I want to do, and then I narrow things down by cost and prior commitments.

So, even if you are not a big planner and you fly by the seat of your pants through life, letting life just happen to you, there’s room for both with this short BLOG.

Whether you plan for it or not, we here at New Life Technology Group will take your electronic donations. For the planners, we know you are already considering year end donations, and office reconfigure plans for the new work environment. Certainly, with the pandemic, it’s caused you to plan differently than ever before. For the non-planners, you’re the type that just use your electronics till they break or at least slow down and affect your user experience, then you decide you need something else and you look to discard it quickly. Relax, both scenarios work for New Life Technology Group.

You see, we collect electronics of all kinds: used, broken, working, or not. We take them in and turn them into something that others can use, especially laptops. Did you know that 100% of all donations we receive are recycled or repurposed? Even better, when it comes to laptops, a portion of what we take in that are salvageable, go right to our Computers For Kids Program. This program is unique and one of a kind. We deliver refurbished laptops to students in the Atlanta metro area who may not otherwise be able to afford it. Some families have more than one student underfoot, yet only have one household computer to get work done. We want to change that dynamic and put laptops into more hands so students can continue to learn and excel. As long as remote learning is in demand our need will be great.

This is where you come in whether you’re a planner or procrastinator. We need your electronics, especially laptops, to keep up with the demand. As a non-profit organization, we rely on the generous donations from the community. Whether your company is downsizing and needs to be relieved of excess electronic equipment, or you are an individual not knowing how to properly dispose of your unwanted electronics, we are here for you.

With your help, we can help students thrive, but you know what else happens? We prevent our landfills from taking on this unwanted waste. E-waste is a huge problem globally. There’s so many countries that do nothing to properly dispose of such items, and we do not want to join those ranks. As mentioned, we properly recycle 100% of what we take in. We have resources and vendors that help us break down every type of electronic material, from the wires and software side of things to all the hardwire and metals. It’s truly an undertaking that needs more awareness these days. We are happy to be an organization that knows our place and where we fit in this cycle. So what we need most is the connection from you. That connection that comes from you understanding how important it is to recycle, but then goes the extra mile to actually do something about it. We appreciate it greatly when you choose New Life Technology Group as your partner in this endeavor.

Should you have something now or in the future, please keep us at the top of your list and your mind. We can’t do this without you! If you came across us intentionally via our marketing efforts on Google and/or social media or you searched organically and we came up, it takes a lot to keep non-profit organizations like ours afloat. Should you not have any electronics to donate, but would like to support our cause with a monetary donation of any amount, we’d appreciate it and be happy to accommodate you there as well. Your donations are tax deductible and will go a long way to securing our mission of helping students succeed across metro ATL and keep electronics out of our landfills.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to make a donation, whether that’s in person or online. Our Alpharetta office is open Monday through Friday from 8am – 4pm, or for your convenience you can donate online here.

We look forward to partnering with you!

Learn how to host a public or private electronics collection event

Learn how to hold an electronics dropbox drive

 

Nonprofit Electronic Recycling Center Atlanta Ga

Back to School Is Here – Help Us Change Their World!

by with No Comment RecyclingThe Kids
“Summer, Summer, Summer!” I can still hear words to the song “Magic” by ‘The Cars’ on the radio from days gone by. We long for Summer each year on the calendar. It’s time for vacations to the beach, the mountains, and all sorts of fun outdoor activities. The excitement builds in late Spring and you start seeing posts on social media and start getting ads and emails of all kinds for those adventures waiting to be had. From Memorial Day in May, to Labor Day in September, retailers hit us with all they can, yet as soon as Independence Day comes and goes, and Major League Baseball has its Mid-Summer Classic, then BOOM!, it hits us square in the face, AUGUST IS ALMOST HERE!, and our kids have to prepare to go back to school again. And whether it’s the choice of returning to the classroom in person or remaining in remote learning scenarios, there is one common need that still remains. Our students need laptops to keep them moving forward academically. 
 
During these Summer months, your friends at New Life Technology Group have been diligently continuing to field the calls and emails for the requests to provide more laptops to our Computer For Kids Program. As our CEO, Brittany Conley, reminds us to take our mission to heart daily in that “Changing Our World Starts With Changing Theirs!” It’s a bold statement of truth and shines new light on an issue that will be with us for years to come.
 
For those that are still not familiar with our program, please note it is one of the pillars of our mission “to provide students in the Atlanta Metro area with the technology they need for digital learning.” Upon receiving donated laptops, we safely destroy all data (to DoD 5220.22-M standards) and then reinstall the necessary software and deliver them to the students in need. To date, we have donated over 900 laptops to students, and our plan is to continue this service, but we can’t do this without the help of the community. How can you help? Well, there are three ways that can make an immediate impact:
 
1) Contact New Life Technology Group and offer your unwanted laptops to us. Whether you’re a local business or resident in the Atlanta Metro area, your simple donation could be the difference that changes a student’s academic life for the better. As our President and Founder, Tim Conley, aptly states, “Through the power of your donations, we’re able to transform our community and the world around us.” By doing so, you help us work towards a cleaner, greener, more hopeful future, for our kids and our planet.” Donating helps give both your technology, and people in your community “new life!”
 
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm for residential and business drop offs. For your convenience, we offer FREE pick ups for businesses within the Atlanta Metro area. We schedule our pickups based on logistics and they are done on Mondays and Fridays.
 
2) Your generous monetary donation goes a long way as well. New Life Technology Group is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization and so your donation is also tax deductible. We take donations of any amount, but if you want to see how far your dollar goes here’s a look at what can happen:
 
  • $150 Supplies one student with a laptop
  • $300 Supplies a pair of siblings each with a laptop
  • $750 Supplies a group of 5 students with their own laptop
  • $3,000 Supplies an entire classroom with laptops

The other way to see your donation go the extra mile is with our Amazon Smile program. Simply sign up HERE and follow the prompts to fill out the info for your favorite charitable group and then use the smiles link everytime you shop on Amazon. By doing so, Amazon donates a portion of your everyday purchases and sends it directly to organizations like ours to benefit from the proceeds.

3) The other way to donate is by organizing an E-Waste Drive or Electronic Recycling Event in your neighborhood. Contact us and give us some dates that work for you, and we’ll match with a date on our calendar, and do the rest. Typically these events are 2-3 hours on a weekend and are open to the public. This allows us to get the most response from the event with our local marketing efforts. Should your subdivision not allow a public event, we can do them exclusively for you, but we would then ask for a $50/hr deposit donation. This simply covers the production costs of the event. Should we determine that there was enough electronic waste to cover our production expenses, we would then issue you a refund.

For businesses that would rather have us drop donation boxes off at their location for a continual donation process, rather than a one time pick up, we can arrange that as well. We would just need to make sure that the gaylord boxes we drop off are in a secure location so that employees can not only see them, but are comfortable enough to drop off their items and their personal info will not be compromised. For a list of items we accept for donation and recycling, please see our FAQs online.

If you have any questions that we can help you with, please do not hesitate to contact us either online at www.newlifetechgroup.com or at the office at 404.313.8215

For more info on our Computer For Kids Program and on remote learning check these links out:

https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2021/04/virtual-learning-here-stay-k-12-perfcon

https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2021/04/remote-and-hybrid-learning-are-here-stay-let%E2%80%99s-make-them-better

Children using laptop and smartphone during classes in modern primary school

Making A Difference In One Child’s Life

by The Kids

It’s been quite a year for most of us, and this year may or may not have fully turned the page quite yet, just because the calendar said to do so. As we all have our own issues and challenges we are dealing with to survive each month, or even each day, consider if you will, what our kids have been through.

Not only have they lost many social connections from school mates, and the one on one attention they could get from their teachers in classroom settings, but they are also losing time. Time? you say, aren’t we all losing time? Sure, but think about the learning time that kids have for educational development. Equate it to, for lack of a better example, a dog’s life. One year of our time equals seven years in a dog’s development and growth. Similarly, the longer it takes kids to keep on pace with learning, the longer it will take them to get to their next level and could eventually even prolong graduation. We can’t let this happen! Our education model is already behind many other countries, and for a simple solution of providing computers to kids, we’re convinced we can meet this need, even in troubling times.

Despite the uncertainty and unrest, there is something you can do to help kids progress and in turn, advance them and reverse the trend. Computers For Kids is a program that New Life Technology Group is hard at work making it happen for our students. Each time you donate your old, unwanted laptop to NLTG, we refurbish that computer and turn it into a tool that our kids can use to stay up to date with their remote learning schedules. Since launching this program NLTG has donated over 900 laptops to kids, and the demand continues to increase. We need your help to make this a reality. Whether you choose to donate your electronics or take the time to donate to us monetarily online, every amount helps to reach the kids with the technology they need to succeed.

Regardless of your position today, consider yourself blessed to have had the chance to be educated and participate in our venture and choose to bless others less fortunate. This Computers For Kids program really does represent the idea of paying it forward.

Thanks in advance for your support. Please donate if you are able to join our cause. Or if you have any specific questions feel free to contact us.

Remember that “Changing Our World Starts With Changing Theirs!”