How to Dispose of a Computer in Denver (Wipe Your Data First)
You can’t just trash a computer in Colorado — it’s banned from the landfill. Here’s how to wipe your data, recycle it for free, or have it hauled with the rest of your old tech.
Quick answer: how to get rid of an old computer
| 1. Back up | Save anything you want to keep to an external drive or the cloud. |
| 2. Wipe it | Sign out of accounts, then factory-reset. For sensitive data, remove or destroy the hard drive. |
| 3. Recycle it | Take it to a certified e-waste recycler or a retailer that accepts computers (many take laptops/desktops free). Never the trash — it’s illegal in Colorado. |
| Whole pile / office | We haul old computers and electronics on same-day cleanouts across Denver metro. |
Step 1: Wipe your data first
This is the step people skip and regret. Before a computer leaves your hands, protect your personal info:
- Back up photos, documents, and anything else to an external drive or cloud storage.
- Sign out of your accounts (email, cloud, iCloud/Google, and any “Find My” or activation lock).
- Factory reset the machine — on Windows, “Reset this PC → Remove everything”; on Mac, erase the drive and reinstall via Recovery.
- For sensitive data (financial, medical, business), go further: remove the hard drive or SSD and keep or physically destroy it. A factory reset is fine for most people; drive removal is the gold standard.
Step 2: Where to recycle a computer in Denver
Once your data’s wiped, you have several free or low-cost options:
- Certified e-waste recyclers — the safest route; look for R2 or e-Stewards certified facilities in the Denver metro.
- Retail drop-off — several electronics retailers accept laptops and desktops for recycling, often at no charge (TVs and monitors sometimes carry a fee — policies and prices change by store and state, so check first).
- Manufacturer take-back — Dell, HP, Apple, and others run free mail-in or trade-in recycling programs.
- City / county e-waste events — Denver-area governments hold periodic electronics collection events.
See our full rundown of where to recycle electronics in Denver for more drop-off options.
What about monitors, printers & peripherals?
They’re covered by the same Colorado ban. Monitors (especially old CRT/tube monitors) contain hazardous materials and must be recycled, not trashed. Printers, keyboards, mice, cables, and external drives can all go to an e-waste recycler — and old drives should be wiped or destroyed just like your computer.
💻 Cleaning out a pile of old tech?
A single laptop is easy to drop off. But an office cleanout, a closet of dead desktops, a garage of old monitors and printers? That’s us. Junk Same Day hauls computers and electronics alongside the rest of your junk — same-day across Denver metro, responsibly recycled (60%+ diverted).
See electronics recycling in Denver → or call (720) 902-8408.
Computer disposal FAQ
Do I need to wipe my computer before recycling it?
Yes. Back up your files, sign out of your accounts, and factory-reset the machine. For sensitive data, remove or physically destroy the hard drive. Recyclers are not responsible for data you leave on the device.
Is it illegal to throw away a computer in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado’s Electronic Recycling Jobs Act bans computers, laptops, monitors, TVs, and other electronics from landfills and curbside trash. They must be taken to a recycler or collection event.
Does Best Buy or other retailers take old computers?
Several electronics retailers accept laptops and desktops for recycling, often for free. Fees can apply to some items like TVs and monitors, and policies change by store and state, so confirm before you go.
Where can I recycle a laptop in Denver?
Use a certified e-waste recycler (R2 or e-Stewards), a retail drop-off, a manufacturer take-back program, or a city/county e-waste event. For a whole pile of old tech, Junk Same Day can haul it during a cleanout.
How do I get rid of a lot of old computers at once?
For an office or multi-device cleanout, Junk Same Day removes computers and electronics same-day across Denver metro and recycles them responsibly. Call (720) 902-8408 for a quick quote.
Old tech piling up?
Computers, monitors, printers, and the rest — we haul it same-day and recycle 60%+.
Retailer and program rules change — confirm what your chosen recycler or drop-off accepts before you go. General information, not legal advice.