The Online Family answers:

Throughout the years most families upgrade their computer a few times to get more speed, better features and additional disk space. A decade ago, it was popular to donate an old computer to your kid's school. But now many schools already have top-of-the-line equipment or don't want to use computers that don't come with a warranty or tech support. So try contacting a local non-profit organization to see if they could make use of your old equipment. Or, contact the Computer Recycling Center to find a drop-off location in your area. Ask if they will accept not just your computer, but old mobile phones, modems and printers, as well. For additional resources, try doing an Internet search using words like "recycle computers." Whatever you do, however, don't just toss your computer in the trash. Computers have a lot of components that are environmentally hazardous, so it's always best to recycle.