Have you been hanging on to old computers, small appliances, or unwanted household items because you didn’t know what to do with them? Well, why not recycle? There are a number of non-profit organizations such as Goodwill Industries, St. Vincent DePaul, or organizations representing disabled individuals who will accept these items in working condition. However, if they are broken or unacceptable at a charitable organization, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, has a website, (http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/wm/recycle/index.html) where you can locate a number of businesses who will assist you in disposing of these items in a safe and efficient manner
However, before you discard these items, you may want to ask:
• What special rules or fees they may have for accepting these items?
• How will they recycle or dispose of these items?
• Are they insured against environmental damage and what policies do they adhere to for insuring that the items are discarded in a safe manner?
Most importantly, before you donate any items such as cell phones, computers, or other items that may contain sensitive data or personal information, make sure that you take measures to remove and destroy this information before it leaves your possession.