What can you do with your old computer when it doesn’t work anymore? While you can keep it somewhere in your home to collect dust, you can give it a new life by recycling it. Many companies actually specialize in recycling technology, so it’s not that difficult to find somewhere to take your broken down computer or other electronic gadgets.

Computers are categorized as e-waste, and when you recycle them it’s called e-cycling. According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the average American household owns 24 electronic products. Times that by the approximate number of families in the U.S. and you have a significant amount of items that will eventually become e-waste. This type of waste is only increasing exponentially, because our society improves and creates new technology every day. Plus, larger companies who update their technology more frequently only add to the problem, especially if they don’t recycle.

These materials not only fill up the landfills, but they are also a major source of carcinogens and toxins. So they can cause land, water and air contamination. However, on the positive side, they are an excellent source of secondary raw materials.

When you buy electronics or a new computer, find out if the manufacturer offers recycling. For example, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Apple accept old computers. If you enjoy electronics and are always buying newer models, donate your old, working computers to a school or organization that is in need of these types of supplies. You might even have a friend or family member who can benefit from using an older computer you have just lying around. Even if you go through cell phones, you can donate these to organizations that help families stay in contact with their loved ones who are over seas in the military.

There are so many ways you can donate your electronics and having them sitting around your house or in a landfill is not doing them or the environment any good. You might have to make a phone call or do some research to find out how and where to send your e-waste, but it’s an extra step that is going to help preserve and protect the environment and the public’s health.