According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 250 million computers will become obsolete in the next five years, many ending up in landfills. But this does not mean that old technology is worthless. Many organizations and people, from charities to identity thieves, would love to get their hands on discarded computers, and the following advice is offered on how to dispose of an obsolete PC or Mac safely and securely.

Computer manufacturers· depend on planned obsolescence, which means your new PC can be woefully behind the technology times in less than a year. Many Americans are not aware of the dangers associated with improperly disposing of a computer -namely ID theft and polluting the environment.

Simply tossing a computer out with the trash is a bad idea for two reasons. Not only does a computer store personal and financial information that a consumer would not want getting into the hands of ID thieves, but it is also composed of heavy metals and toxins that are extremely hazardous to the environment.

Consumers have options when it comes to discarding a computer. Selling an old computer as-is is one choice, but given that technology becomes obsolete fairly quickly, getting much money for it can be difficult. There are also recycling services that will take old computers and either refurbish them or take them apart and dispose of the non-valuable pieces properly.

Another option is to donate old computers to charity. The donation is tax deductible, and it can help a good cause. For guidance on finding a worthy cause, Techsoup.com has a list of organizations nationwide that accept computer donations. Consumers should always check out the charity before they donate.

Regardless of whether someone plans to donate an old computer to charity, sell it, or send it off to be recycled, it is important to completely erase all personal data and information from the computer to prevent ID theft. Simply deleting files or reformating the hard drive is not enough, since someone with a basic understanding of computers will still be able to retrieve key information.

There are several free software programs available for download online that will erase or wipe information effectively enough to prevent ID theft. Also, many operating systems and some antivirus software already come with a wiping feature. Keep in mind that data on personal computers is never completely erased, and the only way to completely wipe out information is to physically destroy the hard drive.