Why should you care about some old laptops sitting in the closet? Below, you’ll find out the potential data dangers of abandoned devices. Don’t worry, we also talk about the solution, one that will benefit both your company and your community.
Our very own Loren Williams, Enterprise Partnerships Manager at PCs for People, joined the PR Bunker Podcast to explain why retired computers are a bigger risk than most offices realize, and how they can become someone’s first step into college, work, or a business.
Most offices have a variation of this closet. An empty cubicle, a storage room, a conference room nobody books, with a stack of retired laptops and desktops that someone will deal with “after the next refresh.” Months quickly pass, priorities shift, and the dust settles on devices that still have so much more to give.
Loren Williams, who builds the partnerships that source computers for PCs for People, sees that stack and thinks of two things: a data security risk and a student who needs a computer.
Loren sat down with Don Martelli on the PR Bunker Podcast to talk about how PCs for People works, how it started, and what IT teams and organization leaders can do before their next hardware refresh to avoid a data breach, and support a good cause. By the way, it won’t cost the companies a penny. Watch or listen to the podcast, or read an overview with some key takeaways below.
How a computer turns into a risk
When it comes time to buy new equipment, most teams focus on what’s next: the faster laptop, the better network gear. The disposal side tends to get decided last, if at all.
It doesn’t seem like a big deal, until a well-meaning employee might see a dusty laptop and think of a nephew heading to college. No one will miss it, so it walks out the door, and so does whatever data was on it. An innocent mistake turns into a potential lawsuit, fractured trust with your customers or clients, and a headache; all that could’ve been easily avoided.
The fix doesn’t take much. Plan the disposal at the same time you plan the rollout. It may sound simple, because it is, thanks to our process. All you have to do is reach out and ask us to pick up the devices, and you’re done. More on that below.
What happens when we pick up your computers
Organizations typically retire computers after three to five years, but a typical machine can run for eight to ten. That leftover life is the opportunity.
We pick up retired equipment, securely delete the data, and refurbish as many computers as we can. Our team loads Windows 11 as a Microsoft partner, makes any needed repairs and upgrades, and then gets the computer to someone who needs it, either directly or through a community partner like the Boys and Girls Club.
On data security, we are NAID AAA certified, the same certification held by reputable for-profit electronics recyclers. Nonprofit does not mean less professional. Anything that goes on a PCs for People truck stays out of a landfill. In 2025, that added up to more than 7 million pounds of electronics.
Take a look inside that closet
If you’re an IT manager, an operations lead, or anyone who manages equipment, here is a simple place to start.
- Check where retired computers are sitting right now.
- Ask who has access to them and how long they have been there.
- Build disposal into your next hardware refresh plan, ideally six to twelve months ahead.
- If you have 15 or more laptops to donate, reach out to us to schedule a pickup. Our trucks travel up to four hours each way from our 11 locations, and we can work with organizations anywhere in the United States.
We typically partner with organizations that have 150 or more employees, across healthcare, government, finance, legal, and higher education, but every computer makes a difference.
You can also help by spreading the word. Mention us at your next IT meeting, invite us to speak for 10 minutes, or share this interview on social media.
Let’s bridge the digital divide, together
Ready to schedule a pickup or start a partnership? Reach out to us at partner@pcsforpeople.org and let’s make a difference together.
Want to support the mission? Donate here.
Stop by and say hello! If you have less than 15 laptops, you can drop them off at one of our Mission Markets. See our locations.
