I buy a new computer every two years. Because I work on it every day it is somewhat of a necessity. That said, that means there is a trail of slightly used computers in my wake.

They still work well if the user doesn't need the latest and greatest software. However, I don't see the value in having three, four or five computers in our home at any given point in time. So, what to do?

We now limit the number of computers in our home to two - my laptop and the most recent hand-me-down for our family's use. And the rest of the computers?

Yard sales work well, so does http://www.kijiji.com/. I recently sold my four year old Dell for $150 on Kijiji to an enterprising gentleman. He cleans up the computers (hard-drive, operating system, etc) and flips them to recent immigrants for a modest margin of $30 or $50. Works well for me, works well for him and works well for the new computer owner!

However, I have simply delayed the eventual e-waste that the computer will become - someday it will end up somewhere after life, hopefully somewhere of value and safety. Check out the documentary Manufactured Landscapes sometime - wow!

So, what to do?

Perhaps computer companies should take a closer look at at Xerox and printer cartridges? Xerox save millions by leasing photocopiers then taking them back at end of life, recycling many components - smart. By leasing them, they know exactly what photocopiers are where. Many retail outlets now facilitate easy recycling of printer cartridges (the ones that cost more than the printer!) - smart.

Perhaps rather than delaying the e-waste graveyard, computer manufacturers should 'take-back' three or four year old computers, recycle appropriately and hook customers for life.

Thoughts?