Offer them up for shipping costs on the forum. If nobody takes them in a week, throw them in the trash and never think about it again.

Just trash it. That card isn't even retro and as of yet, it has no value. It may gain value to retro collectors in a decade or so, but not if it's broken anyway.

Edit: on further reading of the OP, I wouldn't bother listing that Sound Blaster card. As everyone else said, it's not a high value card even when fully working, and is basically scrap with that many issues. Just send that one to e-waste & be done with it. I'll leave this post up in case you have other stuff that's a little less knackered to deal with though.

I've gotten into flogging stuff on Ebay lately & have had really good luck doing so. Converting stuff I don't need into cash in my paypal that will eventually turn into stuff I do need, is nice. Even if you only make a few bucks doing it, it's out of your hair and didn't go to recycling. If I think something's worth more than about $5 or $10 I usually give it a shot.

Ebay sales have been far, far less aggravating than trying to sell stuff to the local bozo contingent on CL or Kijiji.

Here's my method to make Ebay as painless as possible:
- pack and weigh the item before you even make the listing. This seems like extra work, but trust me on this. If it doesn't eventually sell you can always unpack it and re-use the packing materials for another listing. It's a lot easier to deal with a stack of packed boxes pending sale in your front hall than a bunch of random items strewn everywhere.
- always list what you're selling as "for parts or not working", even if it "sort of" works. Describe exactly what's wrong with it in the ad listing, and maybe even include a picture if it throws an error message on-screen or something.
- use the Ebay shipping calculator when you make the listing. Input the dimensions and weight & it gets the rates. Don't bother doing it yourself.
- When the thing sells, Ebay will give you the option of using a partner shipping broker site to print the shipping label at home. Do this. Then you can just walk into the post office, they'll scan it, and you're done.
- start the auction at the price you need to make it worth your time to sell. I usually stick $9 as the starting price for a low-value item. Don't fret about the total including shipping because that's not your money. If someone thinks it's worth your take + whatever the actual shipping rate is, they'll buy it; end of story.
- look up "high" past sales prices for the same thing in similar condition, subtract 10 or 15%, and stick that as your buy-it-now. If someone sees your thing and wants to have it NOW, they'll bite.

Pretty much everything I've put on there has sold after a few weeks, some stuff right away. Ten extra bucks for something you never thought would sell is still ten extra bucks. I've been funding all my recent game & random thrift store pickups from Ebay sales, so I'm not buying crap out of my food money. Nice guilt-free feeling.

derSammler wrote:

Just trash it. That card isn't even retro and as of yet, it has no value. It may gain value to retro collectors in a decade or so, but not if it's broken anyway.

Basically this, if the thing has no value to begin with. Just... like bring it to an e-waste centre for recycling, instead? Don't just toss PCBs and stuff into dumpsters (obviously unless you have no choice).

Thank you all your comments, suggestions and tips .

I guess I will try to sell what looks like it might go and recycle the rest .

If you accumulate parts that don't work or have basically no value (dialup modems), sell them for scrap on eBay. There's very little risk, since its just scrap, and all you have to do is throw the stuff in a box.

Selling a few at a time might be too tedious and not worth the time spent, but selling a medium USPS flat rate box full of cards may get you a nice little chunk of change.

Find a local ewaste collector or facility.

Ozzuneoj wrote:

If you accumulate parts that don't work or have basically no value (dialup modems), sell them for scrap on eBay. There's very little risk, since its just scrap, and all you have to do is throw the stuff in a box.

Selling a few at a time might be too tedious and not worth the time spent, but selling a medium USPS flat rate box full of cards may get you a nice little chunk of change.

+1 to this. Every few months I get together a bunch of non-working tested gear, toss it in a box and it usually sells for a few dollars, which adds up over time. The main thing is that it's out of my hair, and the care factor for the sale is pretty low. However, make sure you do pack stuff well enough to make the postal journey, and be very clear to list it as Not Working or for Parts, or the buyer will have rights should it be damaged in transit, or not actually work if it's not clearly described as faulty. Sometimes the buyer will only want it for scrap though, like the guy who turned up holding a chihuahua who was wanting to 'get into metal recycling'. He didn't inspire confidence but at least he left positive feedback!