Patriot News: Some retailers take old computers
Filed under: Earth 911 - April 25, 2007
DAN MILLER, Of The Patriot-News
Patriot News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
April 25, 2007 Wednesday
Some retailers take old computers
Today is the deadline for small businesses to register for an electronic equipment disposal event to be held Friday in Hampden Twp. by the West Shore Chamber of Commerce.
But if you can’t make the chamber event, at least two computer retailers in the area will accept electronic gear that small businesses want to dispose of throughout the year.
Alliance Computers will accept most items free of charge. For any item not “completely out of date,” Alliance will give a store credit that can be applied toward purchases, said Dale Nagle of Alliance. The retailer might charge $2 per monitor if a business wants to dispose of a large number of monitors.
For no additional charge, Alliance will remove data from equipment, destroying hard drives if necessary, Nagle said.
Alliance accepts used equipment at all of its area stores: Harrisburg, Lemoyne and York. The Harrisburg-area operation at 5520 Derry St. is best for dropping off equipment because it has a warehouse. Businesses with a large amount of equipment to drop off should call Alliance ahead of time at 920-0300.
Another local disposal option for small businesses is The Computer Barn at 1460 Newville Road in North Middleton Twp. near Carlisle.
The Computer Barn accepts electronic gear from small businesses free of charge. It might pay for used gear, depending on the condition.
Owner Ned Kerstetter said The Computer Barn will remove computer data to U.S. Department of Defense standards and/or destroy a hard drive. Data removal or destruction costs $5 per item. Documentation that data has been removed can be provided.
Businesses with more than 50 items of equipment to dispose of should first call The Computer Barn at 258-9663 to set up an appointment. For $50, The Computer Barn will pick up and dispose of a truckload of items.
DAN MILLER: 255-8440 or danmiller@patriot-news.com
INFOBOX:
WAYS TO DISPOSE OF ELECTRONICS Options for small businesses to dispose of used computers and other electronic gear:
* The West Shore Chamber of Commerce will hold a one-day electronic disposal event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at the Hampden Twp. pool complex on Sporting Hill Road. Businesses are asked to register by the end of today by calling the chamber at 761-0702 or visiting www.wschamber.org.
* Alliance Computers Inc. and The Computer Barn are among midstate computer retailers that accept used items year-round. Both accept most or all items free of charge and might provide store purchase credits for some items. Both retailers also provide data removal and/or destruction services. To learn more: www.alliancecomp.com or www.thecomputerbarn.com.
* Still don’t know what to do? For more ideas, go to Earth911.org or call 800-CLEANUP.