Well, it's not so much the act of renting on your part that helps you go green. But if renting for a temporary project stops you from buying a new machine, that can be a green act. The rental machine can be used over and over by various people, meaning that none of those people are buying new, and that is a good thing.

The real act of green is carried out by the computer rentals company, if they have shown the initiative to implement an end-of-life program for old technology. In addition to renting computers to your business for your short and long-term needs, some computer rental firms will help you dispose of your old equipment in a responsible manner.

Why does this matter? You've probably heard already about the challenges of e-waste. According to writer Louie Jerome (http://hubpages.com/hub/Toxic-Emissions-From-An-Old-Computer ) computers contain many toxins, including arsenic, mercury and beryllium, which can pass through the skin, leak into water, and find their way into the food chain. Cadmium and selenium, also used in computer manufacturing, can have negative effects on the central nervous system. When computer casings are broken, particles from the flame retardants used on them can be inhaled, potentially causing brain damage. These particles can also slow down skeletal development, a major concern since many of the people recycling computers in developing countries are children.

Given all of this information, it is no wonder that some businesses, including computer rentals firms, have decided to take a proactive approach to dealing with e-waste.

If you have older, surplus hardware that you don't know what to do with, seek out a reputable computer rentals firm. They will likely buy the equipment from you at fair market value. If the equipment is still functioning, they can use it to rent to other businesses (after all data is removed, of course). The company might also sell it, if they deal in used computer equipment.

In the event they can't rent or sell it, make sure you know how they will handle it. A reputable company will dispose of it properly, in a government-regulated, environmentally sound facility.

If the computer rentals firm you deal with offers a leasing program, you may want to try it the next time you need a new computer. At the end of most leases, you simply return the equipment to the vendor. There is no disposal issue for you, and the vendor can either rent the machine out, sell it on the secondary market, or dispose of it properly.

We are all concerned about the state of our environment. Fortunately, businesses have many options for going green. Proper disposal of computer equipment is just one of them. If you are looking to clear your storage room of some old technology, you may want to contact a computer rentals firm and ask them about the options they offer for disposition of obsolete computers.