How do I decide which old devices to donate and which to recycle?
TechnologyI found two old phones and a tablet while clearing the desk drawer. My partner said, “Donate them. Someone could use them.” I said I might need a spare, although none has been switched on for over a year.
The tablet held charge the last time I used it. I do not remember the phones' condition, and I have not checked what is still stored on them. There may be a video from my son's first school concert on one.
I can see how “keep a spare” becomes permission to keep everything. I also dislike the idea of sending a box of untested devices to a volunteer and making the sorting their job.
What would be a reasonable amount of checking before offering them? I am willing to spend one afternoon finding the video and assessing the devices. I would like the drawer to become a drawer again afterwards.