If you’re looking to recycle your old system – monitor, computer tower and printer – you might think the only option is to search for a local drop-off spot. But surprisingly, most big-name computer manufacturers offer their own recycling program, some of which come right to your door.

§ Which Company Does What?
Dell Inc., offers home pick up of any old Dell equipment anytime, free. It will also pick up any brand of computer or printer free with the purchase of a new Dell PC or printer. Details can be found at www.dell.com/recycling.
Hewlett-Packard Co.’s recycling procedures are a bit more complicated. At anytime, the company offers to pick up and recycle your old equipment, regardless of brand, but charges $13 to $34 per product for shipping and handling. You will compensated for each product with a $30 to $50 coupon to be used at www.hpshopping.com, where you can buy products from H-P. Recycling details for H-P can be found at www.hp.com/recycle.
Lenovo’s ThinkPlus Recycling Service offers prepaid shipping labels for $30 each to be used for sending any manufacturer’s old system, monitor, printer and peripherals to Lenovo for recycling or refurbishment. Lenovo doesn’t offer a home-pick up service. Once received, Lenovo uses a designated center to recycle your materials and sends reusable equipment to Gifts In Kind International, a charity specializing in product philanthropy
Apple is different still. Like Lenovo, it doesn’t offer home pick-up but will receive all brands so as long as you buy a $30 shipping label from the company’s Web site. With the purchase of any new Mac through Apple’s Web site or at one of its retail stores, you’ll receive an e-mail with instructions and shipping codes for up to two prepaid boxes. These can be used for shipping any old equipment, regardless of manufacturer, to Apple for recycling. Details can be found at: http://www.apple.com/environment/recycling/program.

§ What About My Data?
When recycling, almost all companies vow to mechanically shred your hard drive. But they also suggest that you take responsibility for your data and delete them to be safe.
Various software programs let you clear out your hard disk on your own. Symantec’s Wipe Info in Norton Utilities System Works (http://www.symantec.com) will help on Windows PCs and Macs. Webroot Software Inc.’s Window Washer (http://www.webroot.com) is another option for Windows, and Jiiva Inc.’s SuperScrubber (http://www.jiiva.com) is an alternative for Macs. I haven’t tested these programs, and there are many others that do the same thing.

§ Recycling Alternatives
Plenty of other groups, such as the National Cristina Foundation (http://www.cristina.org) and Share the Technology (http://sharetechnology.org) specialize in distributing reusable computers to people or organizations in need of computers.