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How to Dispose of Printer Equipment
Finally Thinking About Disposing of That Ancient Copier That’s Been Taking Up Space In Your Office? Have you been staring a hole in that old printer equipment? Wishing it would just *poof* disappear? Are you trying to clear out that storage closet and can’t get to anything you need because of all of the old machinery? Then, you’re in the right place! We are going to walk you through some options to rid the office of the old equipment once and for all.
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SKIP THE LINE:
Donate
Recycling
Removal at Next Install
Returning to Manufacturer
Avoiding the Landfill
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Donate
One man’s trash is a donation team’s treasure. That’s the saying, right? Whether you’re used device is working or broken, there are plenty of options for nationwide and regional electronic donations. To start, check your local school districts, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army to see if they are currently accepting used copiers and printers. In some areas, Goodwill and Salvation Army will even pick-up items to be donated.
The National Cristina Foundation does not physically receive, service or place donated equipment. This online tool helps facilitate the connection between a donor contributing equipment and a pre-screened recipient organization. The steps are easy to find on their website and they pride themselves on connecting donations to those in need. As stated by the foundation, “It might give someone access to education, allowing them to be better prepared for the workforce. It might help someone with a disability learn new skills. It could help someone get through college, find a new job, or become active in their community. The opportunities are limitless, and it all starts with your contribution.”
Pickup Please is a program benefitting the Vietnam Veterans of America. Using their online tool, it is easy to schedule a donation pickup and have someone at your location within as little as 24 hours, rain or shine! Per their website, “The Vietnam Veterans of America sells your donated items to private companies by annual bid which generates the majority of the funding to support the local, state, and national programs of the Vietnam Veterans of America.”
Recycling
Depending on the size and weight of your equipment, most box stores have an electronic recycling program in place that allows for on-site drop off. Best Buy, Target, Staples, and Office Depot are great places to start when searching for a store that will accept electronic recycling. This is great for small copiers and printers, desktop computers, keyboards, mouses, computer towers, and more.
The big issue comes in when there is a need for heavy equipment removal. What is the best game plan when there is no way to remove the equipment yourself? There are a few quick and easy solutions to this problem, including, but not limited to, calling 1-800-Got-Junk? who can recycle printers that no longer meet your needs. They offer online and over the phone quotes for removal and recycling of old equipment.
In addition to the nationwide services, take a moment to check with city hall or the local city or county website to see where the closest e-waste drop-off location is to your office. Many municipalities host “Hard to Recycle” days at set locations. Social media can also be a great resource, as many collection teams post information on the municipality page prior to the event.
Removal at Next Install
If you have time to spare and are okay sitting on the old equipment until your current copier lease is up, discuss equipment removal with your copier company at the next installment. With the benefit of already having the box truck on-site, the removal and donation process can be seamless, free, and quick. If there is a time crunch on the removal of equipment, call your sales representative to see if they have in-house options to remove and dispose of old equipment for a small fee.
Related Article: How to Pick the Best Copier
Returning to Manufacturer
Many copier and printer manufacturers take pride in their recycling programs. Below are a few of the top recycling programs through well-known manufacturers that go hand-in-hand with what we have discussed in the previous sections. Can’t find a recycling program for your manufacturer online? Call the number on your machine to talk to a customer service representative today.
Manufacturer Recycling Programs:
Konica Minolta Recycling Program via Clean Planet Program
Avoiding the Landfill
With a wide variety of options available to dispose of your printers and copiers properly, landfill dumping should be old news. If recycling is not for you, consider donating to a local organization and gaining a tax deduction instead of disposing of the machines in the trash. Waste Management customers also have the option to dispose of their used electronics through their recycling program.
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Want to discuss equipment removal during your next copier contract install? Let the experts at Ford Office Technologies give you a hand at 1-800-633-3673 or by emailing info@fordtech.com
