What do I do with my old electronics? I know the feeling. You have something new but the older version, the one you replaced, still works. Let’s say you replaced your ink jet printer with a laser jet printer all-in-one, printer, copier, scanner, and fax. But your old printer still works and you have no idea if you should keep it, “just in case,” throw it away, or give it away.

Chances are, keeping it is not the best option. Most items like that are kept until one realizes he has kept way too many “just in case” items and purges them in one fell swoop. When your new one eventually stops working, you are most likely going to go out and purchase a new one and not dig out the dusty ink jet printer from the basement which now has bugs in it (literally) and where did its power cord and software go?

The solution? Donate your printer in some way. And when you donate it, be sure to dust it off quickly, provide the software CD (although if missing, it can in most cases be downloaded for free online), accompanying power and connection cords, as well as any information you have about any quirks the printer has. In this way, you are managing to keep an entire printer out of landfills for perhaps a few years more and halting the demand for another one at the store (which in turn halts the demand for another one being produced).

Where to donate? You can try to donate directly, using sites like Craigslist or Freecycle. These are great, but beware that often you’ll get emails for free items but then those claiming it don’t show up. Perhaps tell people you are not holding it and that it is a first-come, first-served donation and that you’ll post that it has been taken once someone has done so.

You can also donate to a Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other thrift store. Perhaps tape a note to the item stating that it indeed works, but “needs ink,” if that may be the case. Any information you can provide may insure that someone buys and uses the item again.

Too many quirks for someone to use the item? It works five percent of the time? A last good option is to participate in electronics recycling drives that may occur annual or bi-annually in your town or city. This is a chance for people to go through and literally purge their closets of unwanted, unused items, without dumping them in the landfill. Remember, dumping electronics can lead to harmful elements seeping into our soil and water, such as mercury.

What have you done with old electronics? Share them below!

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