How do I safely dispose of a lap-top?

if you’re not gonna use it or sell it, you could break it open, and smash it, open it up and smash all the platters on the drive, that’s the most secure way, i know on a mac you can use the install disc and overwrite the disk 64 times or so, to make sure nothing gets off

You can give it to me.

I’ll be happy to take it off your hands.

Want my mailing address?

I know that HP has a recycling service program. They will properly wipe your hard drive clean, so no worries about security issues. You may also want to look for local e-recycling drives. They just had one in San Francisco near the beach a few weeks ago. Also, sometimes a local Best Buy or Staples will recycle.

If you do remove the hard drive and smash the drive with a hammer, beware of the little pieces of platters inside. They shatter into tiny slivers like glass. I found out the hard way and had little shards all over the place.

I know here, our waste corp. holds a annual hazardous waste collection day where they will collect and properly dispose anything that can be hazardous to the enviroment.