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Dispose Of The Obsolete By Traci Hukill The shame is the worst part. Owning a crummy old computer is inconvenient (where to store it?) and foolish (why keep it?), but it's nothing compared with the mental agony of trying to get rid of one. That's why we suggest donning a costume, putting the offending device in a box and heading for the Computer Recycling Center at 2971 Mead Ave. in Santa Clara (408.327.1800). These people will accept anything. Well, they don't accept broken-tube monitors. But other than that, they'll take it all--the Tandys, the Commodores, the Mac SEs, the 286s. Oh, sure, in most cases you have to pay them--$1 per useless piece of crap. But it's worth it to be done with it. Newer "old" computer stuff like Mac Power PCs, Pentiums and Pentium IIs, which are accepted free of charge, are refurbished and donated to schools. It's a tax-deductible donation that goes to a good cause and clears shoe space in the closet--a deal that's hard to beat. Other options include C&H Electronic Recovery (408.927.0494) and CILS (408.436.5181). Both these places will salvage what they can for refurbishment and ship the rest off to be recycled. More places are listed on the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition website (www.svtc.org) under "Clean Computers." A word about non-recycled computer junk: Most of it gets sent to China for incineration, where the toxic gases can perform their merry little dance totally unfettered by party-pooping environmental regulations. Oh, that reminds us--Samsung recently announced plans for a $200 non-upgradeable computer to be released next year. A throwaway computer! How divine. Streamlined Living: Pare down and live simply.     Nitty Gritty     Battery Blues     Toss It Out Put Up Yer Dukes: Don't get mad, get even. Cruising: Transit made simple. Soul Relief: Free your inner self. Get in on the Gold Rush: Grab a fistful of cash and join the party. Domestic Bliss: Make your house into a home. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]