In this new year, many people will undertake different goals for our health, lives and businesses. The best part of that, is that any improvement in one area often bleeds over into another. So, make a plan and stick to it as best you can. Nobody is perfect and no plan is perfect, but action is always better than apathy. Alongside the more standard ‘live healthier’ plan, I decided to purge down as much as I can, including electronics that are no longer in use.
I began in the usual way, thinning out the closet. Why are t-shirts such a difficult thing to toss or donate? The answer is the fact that like a song, they take us back to an event in our lives that brings on emotions. You can turn your old t-shirts into a blanket if you need one more of those. Project RePat offers that service, or you probably can find a local person to do it for you. Moving along.
My relationship with computers began an early age. By the time I was looking into college, I was already building my own computer using sites like NewEgg, well over 20 years ago. As I shifted back and forth from PC to Mac, I ended up with the latter. Today I have a 2006 MacBook, a PowerMac G5 with dual cinema displays and a 27 inch iMac. To add to the pile, my father was in need of a new machine – so his 2007 iMac found it’s way here.
I checked Reddit, eBay and Marketplace to see if there was any demand for a computer that will be 20 years old in 48 months. The findings were varied, but for my time – it just makes more sense to recycle. Happily, Apple has a great program for anybody looking to recycle a old machine – and it does not have to be an Apple product. The end goal is for them to reclaim precious metals and materials so that they may go on to live another life in another device. Cycle of life stuff, in computer form. I guess we ALL get recycled eventually. Is the box checked for organ donation on you license? 😉
From there, it was simple. You provide with the serial number of your product and they will either give you credit towards a new machine or a gift card. If it’s too old, like this 2007 iMac, they will simply send you a prepaid label. Box it up and you’re done. You get a little piece of mind that it won’t rot in a landfill and a feeling of ‘I helped a turtle cross the road‘.
So, if you are trying responsibly recycle your gear in 2023, you have options!
Start here: https://www.apple.com/recycling/nationalservices/
If you have any questions or are ready to begin, we’re here and ready to help you on your digital journey. Need help? Drop a line to hello@sevenind.com
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