Don't Toss Your PC in the Trash

I would have to drive the machine to my nearest Goodwill store, but I could fold it in with one of my regular seasonal runs and get rid of some other electronic odds and ends at the same time. Also, I'd get a tax deduction. The IRS Web site and myriad Google searches turned up little advice on how much of a deduction I could take. The best I could discern is that the IRS will let you deduct the fair market value of goods donated, but it doesn't offer any guidelines on how determine that. I could probably deduct the $50 I see similar machines selling for on eBay if not a little more.

It's not a bad option, but I'd like to know with more certainty where my PC will wind up.

My last possibility was a more targeted donation. A group called Non-Profit Computing matches computer donors with schools, community centers and not-for-profits that need technology.

With a quick call to its offices I found out that a revamped computer like mine would be easy to place and most likely used for several years. I can get my tax deduction, see if the organization can use any of my spare peripherals (a zip drive maybe?) to goose that deduction higher, and they'd probably be willing to pick the stuff up at my house, so no schlepping required.

Reuse is better than recycling because it keeps the nonrecyclable parts out of the trash longer and prevents (or in my case offsets) new consumption. A small tax deduction is the best financial gain I'll get from this, and I can't argue with door-to-door service.

For me, this is the best option and I'll be making arrangements for a computer pickup. Those in other cities who choose to follow suit can do an Internet search using the keywords "computer donations" and their city to find similar groups in their communities, such as NextStep Recycling in Eugene, Ore.