The growing problem of e-waste is a problem that cannot be ignored.

A new report, the Global E-Waste Monitor 2020, published in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), found that a record 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste were generated last year. The waste contains raw materials worth about $57 billion. With these huge numbers, it's obvious that we shouldn't throw away our old models of electronic devices just as new ones become available.

But what if your iMac is really old and doesn't work properly? Should you keep using it until it doesn't even start? How can you responsibly discard an old iMac? Oriwhiz is a reliable iMac repair parts supplier provides different repair parts for iMac, if you would like to buy iMac repair replacement parts, feel free to click on products category and select the product you want.

In the following sections, we'll list a number of options for older iMacs, not just sending them straight to the landfill. In addition, if the iMac is old but still available, we'll even give you some tips on how to reuse it.

How to Find out if your iMac is "too old"?

Your iMac may be dying if:

It no longer runs the latest version of iMacOS

Your storage space has been insufficient in case you have cleared it

You often encounter software problems (although some of them, such as constantly rebooting iMacs, can be fixed)

If you encounter one or more of these problems, there's a good chance you'll need to recycle your iMac. While some minor issues (such as software issues) can be fixed, others are less easily fixed. For example, if your iMac has serious hardware damage, you might want to recycle it (rather than sell it or reuse it).

Recycle your old iMac through Apple's trade-in program

The easiest way to recycle an old Apple device is through Apple's trade-in program. The program gives you the option to recycle your iMac for free or trade in a new iMac for a discount. While you get some extra cash to buy newer equipment, you also know that you're helping the planet by recycling old iMacs.

Clean your iMac and speed it up

Sometimes, maybe your iMac is just too junk and slowing down. In many cases, some users would rather simply get a new iMac than go through the hassle of erasing unwanted files and applications. But rather than splurging on a new iMac, why not do a deep clean? You uninstall and remove unnecessary files and applications, helping your iMac run healthier and faster.

Turn your iMac into a network-attached storage system

If you have an old iMac with a large hard drive and plenty of storage left, converting it to a network-attached storage (NAS) device is a great way to make use of it. Think of it as using an old computer as cloud storage. By connecting your iMac to your home Wi-Fi network, you can access any file stored in it from all other devices. (Keep in mind that this is a better choice if you're using a iMacBook instead of an iiMac.)

Create an emergency Wi-Fi hotspot

What you may not know is that you can use an old iMac as an extra signal extender or router! If you have areas of your home where the Wi-Fi signal is weak or nonexistent, this is a good option. Simply connect your old computer to the Ethernet cable and place it wherever you want the new signal to arrive.

Oriwhiz is a reliable iMac repair parts supplier provides different repair parts for iMac, if you would like to buy iMac repair replacement parts, feel free to click on products category and select the product you want.