I started this project to get rid of a dysfunctional printer and to reclaim some shelf space. Simple enough, right? Wrong. Sure, you can toss your old printer straight into the garbage can if you don't mind that it might be leaking toxins into your groundwater and possibly spawning deformed monsters.

But after searching through the possibilities--including giving it to a friend or donating it (no takers for either)--I finally stumbled into a solution.

Apparently, HP, my printer's manufacturer, actually has one of the best and seemingly well known recycling programs around. To my surprise, however, it seems that I have to pay to have my printer recycled. Hmph. While I didn't actually expect to make any money on this deal, it never occurred to me that I would have to spend some to do the right thing.

There are 3 steps involved with the hardware recycling quote process, along with salient details I'm asked to provide, including:

1. Product description and quantity of each items/product described, which results in a recycling rate quote. ($30 for my all-in-one-printer. Not terrible. Not great, either.)

2. Personal information, name and address. (They've refrained form asking for my fingerprint or first-born child, but it still feels like a lot.)

3. Credit card info. (Sigh.)

Still, I provide the details, hit "submit" and... whoopee! A nice confirmation page indicates that UPS will actually be picking up my package. Now all I have to do is pack the printer, write "Call-Tag pick-up for HP Recycling" on the box, and I'm done!