What to do with office equipment that you no longer need

Do you have old equipment taking up a lot of space in your office that you don’t know how to get rid of? There are several office managers who need advice on what to do with office equipment that’s no longer in use. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do with an old printer or copier that you no longer need. If you don’t want to dump it in the trash, you can take it to an electronics recycling facility, or you can seek advice on what to do with it from your current supplier of office equipment.

Your current office supplier is probably the best place to start with when enquiring about what to do with your old office furniture and supplies. Office equipment suppliers can usually help dispose of any machine and their connections may include people who pick up office equipment like printers, for example. Your print solutions provider may also have these connections. As already mentioned above, below is what you can do with office equipment that you no longer need.

Donate to charities or recycle

You can donate your old office equipment for reuse, resale, or recycling. There are many organisations who are in need of  donated office supplies and equipment. By doing this you would not only benefit the charities, but you could promote your business as being green by doing your part to help save the environment.

Electronic waste recycling companies such as Desco Electronic Recyclers can come and collect your old electronic equipment free of charge. Just remember that before you donate electronic equipment from your office, it’s essential to ensure that you’ve erased any personal or company information which may have been stored on the electronic machine.

Trade in at office supplier

Another option you have to  dispose of your old office equipment is a potential trade in with your current office equipment supplier. If your printer or copier is not too old and still has a few years left in them, a number of companies  in the office supply industry generally would be happy to take a trade in. 

Other electronic machines are not as bad as computers at holding their value. While computer software is constantly being upgraded, when it comes to office equipment like printers, you can buy a printer that you’re satisfied with today, and after two or three years you can generally be guaranteed that you will still be happy with it.

Dispose of electronic waste responsibly

Whether it’s in your personal office or a public company space, you likely have some old office equipment that has passed its sell-by-date and that you would like to dispose of. Ensure you get rid of your office waste in a responsible manner so that you reduce the negative impact on the environment.

For instance, there are hidden dangers associated with computers once they become e-waste. According to FindLaw, “the harmful materials contained in electronics, coupled with the fast rate at which we’re replacing outdated units, poses a real danger to human health if electronics are not properly processed prior to disposal or recycled”.

Electronics like computers contain several toxins which can be very harmful to humans if they enter the water system. These toxins can cause damage to human nervous and respiratory systems. It’s therefore very important to ensure electronic waste is disposed of responsibly.

So, if you had no idea what to do with the office equipment you no longer need, now you have a few options. If you can’t trade it in at an office supplier, you can donate it to charitable organisations or hand it over to e-waste recycling companies.