Santa Feans feeling bogged down by their old or broken electronics have a chance to get rid of them today at the year's second E-Waste Recycling Drop Off Day.

Computers, printers, cell phones, telephones, and televisions are just a few of the examples of electronic waste that can be recycled.

But one thing people might be wondering is whether their television or computer is actually salvageable — and if repairing it would be affordable.

Emilio Sanchez, owner of Coca's TV Service in Santa Fe, said that there are certain things to look for to figure out if a TV is still repairable — particularly the manufacturer's date on the back.

"It'll tell you the age of the TV," Sanchez said. "Most TVs last between 15 and 20 years, and some manufacturers stop selling parts after about 10 years."

If the TV's casing or screen is cracked, it's not worth it to try to repair it, Sanchez said, because it will be too expensive. This is especially true for LCD or plasma-screen TVs.

Otherwise, any TV can be brought into the store to be checked and to get a quote for the costs of repair.

Jonathan Sandmel, owner of Dotfoil Computer Services in Santa Fe, said he has a simple rule of thumb when it comes to repairing computers.

"Any repair less than half the value of the computer is usually worthwhile," he said, adding that it's important to know that a computer's value is cut in half every 18 months. Because of this, computer owners should do the math to better judge whether a repair is necessary. "A repair that costs more than half the diminished value is not a good investment."

For both PCs and Macs, a computer should last about five or six years. Beyond that, Sandmel said, it depends on how it is used. For example, the Internet might not work well on an older computer, but simpler software like word processing programs would. But then would a modern printer be compatible with it?

If a computer has a virus or a problem with the hard drive, that can usually be easily and inexpensively repaired, Sandmel said.

But if there's a problem with the logic board or the motherboard — at any age — those repairs can be very expensive if the warranty has expired. If the warranty is still active, however, most of those problems are covered.

Generally, a cracked screen is also too expensive to repair, Sandmel said, but there are ways to get around that problem. For example, a functioning laptop with a cracked screen can be turned into a desktop computer by buying a new monitor.

But if it's not worth it to repair the TV or computer, get rid of it the green way.

Contact Jessica Trumbull at 986-3050 or jtrumbull@sfnewmexican.com.

E-WASTE RECYCLING

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, 1142 Siler Road

What is accepted: Computers, laptops, screens, printers, stereos, telephones, battery packs. Televisions are accepted with a $5 cash payment.

What is not accepted: Microwave ovens, bread machines, appliances