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Should I Repair or Recycle My Computer?

Posted by Edward Drummond on Wed, Nov 21, 2012


30 years ago, computers were an after-thought in most people's minds. They were good for academic work and business applications, but the average person never dreamed that they would become such an important part of our everyday life. Fast forward to 2012 and computers are in nearly every electronic object we interact with. There are even refrigerators with computers in them! Using computers has become second nature to most people. Whether it's the computer on your desk that you check Facebook on or the computer in your car that tells you how fast you are going, nearly everyone uses a computer of some form or another every day.  On top of that, many users 30 years ago did not have an idea of the enviromental impact a single PC can have.

When it comes to environmental issues, many PC repair companies appear to look the other way.  Ask them what their environmental policy is and they may tell you that they advocate recycling, but do they actually do it?  Northampton Computer Repair, as part of Ink & Toner Solutions has a strong base in the "green" side of business.  We are strong advocates of the idea of repair over replacement as each new PC can use as much as 500 pounds of fossil fuels during the span of it's production. When it does come time to finally dispose of a PC, we recommend making sure the recycler is an e-Stewards accreddited company (you can find your local e-Steward recycler here, it allows you to search by zip code), as this ensures your PC will not only be recycled, but will be taken care of in a trackable and eco-conscious manner.  We aim to keep as much electronics waste or e-waste, be it ink and toner cartridges, printers or computers out of the dump. 

Too many places we have seen are concerned with making a sale, or doing the bare minimum to make the computer work.  We take the extra step to not only fix the issue, but make sure you understand the how's and why's of the service so you walk away knowing what you can do to help your machine running better.  Our goal is to educate the customers who walk in our door, and to make sure that when you leave, you will not have to come back in with the same problem in the future.

Through repair of a computer, we provide a better value and incentive than replacing it with a newer model.  We help advise you how to get the most out of what you have. Often times, all you need is a little know-how to keep your computer running like new!  We help you find the right upgrades to suit your needs.  Most computer slowdowns can be solved by one or two minor upgrades.

You may know Ink & Toner Solutions as the Pioneer Valley's "worst kept secret" in saving money through affordable, eco-friendly ink & toner products.  For six years the company has been helping Western Mass keep thousands of pounds of ink and toner cartridges out of the waste stream by recycling and re-manufacturing them.  When Ed Drummond joined the Ink & Toner Solutions family in 2011, he brought his knowledge of environmentally conscious computer repair and service along with him.  Since then, Northampton Computer Repair has become an integral part of the local business scene, helping local governments, non-profits, businesses and home users alike get the most out of their computers.  In keeping with the Ink & Toner Solutions tradition of reducing e-waste, we have helped many people maintain the machines they use every day.

 

To find out more about how we recycle here at Northampton Computer Repair, please click below and ask us a question!

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Tags: recycling your PC, E-cycling, Repair or Recycle a Computer?, repairing a PC