Donate Old Computer Hardware

Free Geek accepts nearly all computers and computer-related hardware, in almost any condition. Free of charge.

Hardware can be dropped off at the back entrance of our depot, Tues-Sat 11am-6pm. Please do not drop off anything when we are closed.

For drop offs larger than a van's worth of gear, please call ahead so we can be ready. Our loading dock has a 41" height. Docking plate is available. We can accommodate trucks with a bed/box no longer than 23'.

We Accept

• Computers - working or non-working
• CRT & LCD Monitors *
• Parts of computers
• Laptops (please attach the laptop power supply with masking tape/rubber bands if possible)
• Printers
• Scanners
• Keyboards and Mice
• Fax Machines
• Modems, routers, switches
• Motherboards and accessory cards
• Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
• Computer cables
• Cell Phones
• Game Consoles, Cartridges and Accessories (Atari, Nintendo, Sega, etc)
• Power bars, extension cords, phone cords, etc
• CDs and DVDs
• CPU/CRT combos (like iMacs)

* We gladly accept all computer hardware, but even Free Geek Vancouver occasionally sees too much! When possible, we ask donors to help us keep a clean and safe warehouse by bringing CRT (glass tube) computer monitors directly to one of our downstream recyclers, Encorp, at 1856 Powell Street.

You can also make our volunteers' jobs easier by:

• Untangling cords and coiling them with rubber bands, tape, or twist-ties
• Attaching power adapters to their associated equipment
• Resetting phones, cameras, and other devices to factory defaults, including erasing all data

Pick-up Service

While we prefer to have people and businesses drop off their equipment, if you have a large quantity of old hardware to donate, we can arrange to pick it up from your site.

We are not always able to accommodate residential pickups; we encourage you to ask friends and family to help bring equipment to Free Geek.

Please fill out this form to request a pick-up. You will be contacted by our Pickups Coordinator to discuss logistics and any applicable pick up fees.

• Donors in the downtown and East Van area are eligible for one free trike pickup per week (suggested donation of $15 to cover shipping costs). For larger pickups that require a truck there will be a pickup fee.
• Fees for very large or palleted pick-ups are calculated on a case-by-case basis. Contact us for details.

Request Pick-up

Company

Contact Person

Email

Phone

What are you donating? (include quantities)

Where are you located?

 

We do not Accept

• CRT monitors with broken glass
• Photocopiers
• Telephones (We DO however accept IP phones)
• Flash Lights
• Electric Typewriters
• Stereo Equipment
• Styrofoam
• Televisions or Remote Controls
• Microwave Ovens
• Copiers
• Smoke Detectors
• Appliances (including air conditioners)
• Cash Registers
• VHS tapes

Privacy & Data Destruction

Hard drives larger than 20GB are erased by writing two passes of random data to them. Drives smaller than 20GB, or those that are not functional, are physically destroyed and recycled.

Removable media, including CDs and floppies, are physically destroyed.

Certificates of Data Destruction

Free Geek can provide Certificates of Data Destruction, but would like to remind people that certificates are not enough to protect you. The best way to protect sensitive data is to wipe your own drive before it leaves your possession using the DBAN utility.

Software and Manuals

Since we use free and open source software, we do not re-use proprietary software donated to us. It is recycled in accordance with our software policies and proprietary licensing restrictions.

Paper/cardboard packaging and software manuals can be recycled in your mixed paper curb-side recycling bin. The portion that cannot be recycled through your curbside program can be brought to Free Geek, such as floppy diskettes and CDs. If you have manuals for specific pieces of equipment (i.e. motherboards) you are welcome to bring them with the equipment.