There’s probably a drawer in your house with a phone or a forgotten laptop you stopped using. Something was supposed to be done with it, but then another month passed.
Multiply that drawer by millions of households worldwide and add additional factors such as retired office equipment, and the question becomes harder to ignore: what happens to all this technology when we move on?
According to a University of Waterloo study published in 2023, Canada's electronic waste has more than tripled between 2000 and 2020. On a global scale, an estimated 62 million tonnes of e-waste were generated in 2022, with only 22.3% documented as formally collected and recycled, according to the World Health Organization.
Those are big numbers. But your next decision can be much smaller: does this device really need to become waste?
Photo: ReuseTechBC. Assessing retired equipment for reuse is an important step before recycling.
First, what actually counts as e-waste?
Electronic waste means discarded electrical and electronic equipment. Computers, phones, and printers are a few examples, but the category also includes broader pieces of tech equipment like appliances and other products that use electricity.
Furthermore, just because a device is old doesn't mean it's automatically useless. A laptop you have outgrown may still suit someone who needs to handle emails, school assignments or video calls.
A computer with a repairable fault can have a surprising amount of operational life left. That difference really does matter when clearing out the family tech drawer or replacing office equipment.
Before deciding where something goes, try to work out whether it is still usable, repairable, or genuinely at the end of its working life.
Why are we producing so much?
More often than not, replacement is justifiable. Hardware fails, software requirements change, and repairs can cost more than a simple replacement. Other times, a newer model makes a perfectly functional device feel old.
The difficulty is telling those situations apart.
Take software support. Microsoft ended standard Windows 10 support in October 2025. That creates a real security planning issue, but it doesn’t mean that every affected computer physically stopped working. Owners need to check supported upgrade options and any applicable extended security updates before deciding what comes next.
At home, the decision might begin with a slow startup. At work, it might begin with a scheduled equipment refresh. In either case, ask what has actually changed. Does the device fail to perform an essential task, or has it simply reached the age when you expected to replace it?
Writing down the problem makes it easier to choose a useful fix instead of buying another machine out of frustration.
For a workplace, make that decision before the replacement order arrives. List the machines being retired, who is responsible for them and where they could go next. An equipment refresh is easier to manage when donation is part of the plan rather than a last-minute task for whoever finds the boxes.
For households, a similar approach can be applied on a smaller scale. Put the device and its charger together, check the model and decide what to do with it. A labelled box for the device’s planned destination is more useful than a cupboard full of equipment nobody remembers owning.
Why does e-waste matter beyond the bin?
A computer arrives with a history. Materials were extracted, components manufactured, and the finished product transported before you first switched it on. The Government of Canada's guide to digital technology explains that these stages consume resources and energy.
Replacing equipment unnecessarily repeats that demand sooner. Keeping a suitable device in use helps get more value from the work and materials already invested in it.
Disposal matters too. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that unsafe e-waste processing, including open burning, can release hazardous substances into the environment. These risks are especially serious for people living or working near poorly managed processing sites.
That is why the destination deserves attention. Passing electronics to an appropriate reuse or recycling organization gives you a clearer next step than putting them in ordinary garbage or handing them to someone whose practices you cannot check.
How does this affect your household?
Start with your budget. Replacing a laptop brings more than the purchase price. You may also need accessories, time to transfer files and help getting everything set up.
Before spending, list what you need the computer to do. A student writing assignments has different requirements from someone editing large videos. A device that struggles with one workload may be perfect for another.
There is also the question of access. Imagine a family sharing one computer between schoolwork and job applications. Having another usable laptop could make their daily schedule easier by allowing multiple family members to complete their tasks without waiting for someone else to finish. This highlights how reusing electronics can help improve access to technology.
When we discard useful technology too early, we also lose the chance to put it to work somewhere else.
Five ways to reduce e-waste
1. Look after the device you already own
Give your computer a clear, stable surface with space around its vents. Keep drinks away, transport it carefully and follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. Apple's cleaning guidance, for example, recommends using suitable soft cloths and keeping moisture out of openings.
Software deserves attention as well. Keep supported software updated and remove applications you no longer need. Back up important files so that a repair or unexpected failure doesn’t become a data emergency.
Adopting these habits can help keep your computer running properly and reduce the chances of problems developing over time, potentially extending its lifespan.
2. Get the problem assessed before buying
Describe what is wrong as specifically as possible. Does the battery drain quickly? Is storage nearly full? Does the machine struggle only when several programs are open?
Ask a technician whether repair or a compatible upgrade would address the problem. Request a quote, then compare it with replacement costs and the device's remaining software support.
Set a spending limit before agreeing to the work. A repair is useful when it leaves you with a computer that meets your needs. Spending repeatedly on a machine that still cannot run essential software may be poor value.
3. Donate usable computers while they are still useful
If you no longer need a device, avoid leaving it untouched for years. Its condition and compatibility matter to the next user, so check donation requirements while it still has reuse potential.
At ReuseTechBC, our technology donation page explains what we currently accept and how to prepare equipment. We will do our best to reuse all donated devices, but anything that is not suitable for reuse will be responsibly recycled.
Back up the files you want to keep, ask about data handling, and follow instructions for removing account or device locks. If you are donating workplace equipment, involve whoever manages it so organizational access controls can be removed properly.
Photo: ReuseTechBC. Donated technology is reused when possible, and responsibly recycled if not.
4. Consider refurbished technology when you need a replacement
Refurbished equipment is worth comparing with new devices. Look beyond the price and ask what has been tested, what condition to expect, and what warranty or support is included.
For a laptop, check battery condition, software compatibility and the ports you use. Include any required charger, adapter or delivery cost in your comparison.
Make your shortlist around the tasks you actually perform. Buying more power than you need can stretch your budget without improving your everyday experience. Buying too little can leave you searching for a replacement again sooner than expected.
Where ReuseTechBC fits in
At ReuseTechBC, we accept eligible donated technology, refurbish equipment for reuse and provide affordable options for schools, organizations and people in need across BC. Technology we cannot reuse is responsibly recycled.
The work also creates learning opportunities. Our volunteer and work experience programs include activities such as testing devices, installing hardware, cleaning computers and deploying operating systems. Participants gain practical experience while helping prepare technology for another user.
If you need equipment for your school or eligible organization, our request page explains available programs and eligibility. If you have equipment to give, start with the donation checklist.
A few questions before you clear that drawer
Should I donate or recycle my old laptop?
Check whether it meets a reuse organization's current requirements. A working device may be suitable for donation, but age, condition and supported software all matter. If it cannot be reused, check an appropriate electronics recycling program.
Do I need to buy something new to reduce e-waste?
No. Start by assessing what you already own. Keeping a suitable device working, finding a new user for spare equipment or arranging a proper recycling drop-off are all practical actions you can take without buying another computer.
What if I am unsure about the device's condition?
Write down its model, any known faults, and whether it turns on, then contact the organization before bringing it in. ReuseTechBC will be able to tell you whether or not your donation will be eligible for a charitable tax receipt, and whether it will be reused or recycled.
Give your old technology a next step
Choose one unused device this week. Find out whether you can keep using it, get it repaired, donate it or recycle it responsibly. Put that decision on your calendar so it doesn’t return to the drawer for another year.
If computer donation looks like the right option, check what ReuseTechBC can reuse and take the next step. Your retired equipment may still have useful work ahead.
