Does my iMac 2009 have any value, or do I just recycle it?

If the internal hard drive is still healthy, then you could install Linux Mint on it which would give you a current up to date non-Apple OS that has access to the current versions of many popular web browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Vivaldi, etc.). Plus the Linux Mint software repositories have access to a lot of free open source software such as LibreOffice. Linux is not for everyone, but it is a good way to extend the useful life of older computers. Using Linux also requires you to learn a new OS as well.

Before installing Linux Mint onto the iMac, you should create a bootable macOS USB installer so that you can easily reinstall macOS if you decide Linux is not for you. It is best to confirm the USB installer can boot the iMac before erasing the system.

To check the health of the internal hard drive you can run DriveDx (free trial period) and posting the complete text report here using the "Additional Text" icon which looks like a piece of paper on the forum editing toolbar.

Before you recycle the computer, you need to make sure to securely erase the internal hard drive so that none of your personal files can be recovered. The easiest method is to enable Filevault and let the encryption process complete before performing a simple erase of physical drive (or Fusion Drive item). The other option is to use the "Secure Erase" option in Disk Utility when you erase the volume (only applicable for hard drives since a simple erase of an SSD is sufficient).

Here is an Apple article for properly preparing a Mac for sale or recycling keeping in mind that you need to use one of the above options to securely erase the internal drive since the instructions in this article assumes Filevault is enabled or the system is only using an SSD):

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Adobe and Microsoft abandoned High Sierra long ago, as did many other publishers. High Sierra would be useful for running old 32-bit applications – like games that publishers never updated to run on Catalina and later – but it has become harder and harder to find new applications for it. Even Open Source developers and others who have track records of supporting old versions of macOS seem to be moving on.

That said,

• Firefox 115 ESR will run on High Sierra. In September, Mozilla will stop providing any updates, including "critical security updates," for it. At that point, I think their recommendation will be to move to a Mac that is able to run Catalina or later. But if you are careful about which sites you visit, Firefox 115 ESR might let you use some Web sites that don't work well on High Sierra's old version of Safari.
• The current versions of LibreOffice won't run on High Sierra. But the project keeps an archive of "obsolete and no longer supported versions", and I'm sure there are useful versions there that will. Probably around 7.4.7 or a little earlier – I think 7.4.7.* originally ran on High Sierra but then got revised to require Mojave. The site doesn't appear to have a tool to quickly answer the question "What's the latest version for a given macOS?"
• GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) will run on High Sierra, as will GraphicConverter 12 . Unfortunately, it isn't possible to get the Affinity programs (Photo, Designer, Publisher) for High Sierra any more. The publisher came out with new v2 versions that require Catalina or better, and pulled the old ones at the same time.
• There probably are still versions of Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper! that run on High Sierra.

You may be able to sell it privately to someone who wants older computers. People do. People also want parts. Whether the effort involved in selling it is worth the money you'll get is something only you can determine.

Also, if it still accesses the internet, it's possible that some local non-profit or service organization might be able to make use of it.

One other thing of note about the Late 2009 iMacs.

They don't have USB 3.0, or Thunderbolt. They do have FireWire 800, which would be useful for importing digital video from old MiniDV and Digital8 camcorders; or working with old FireWire-based professional audio equipment.

You don’t have to recycle I’m max

It has zero commercial value however some may want it's parts.IMHO recycle it using Apple Recycling Programs which is responsible as it is disposed of correctly and is free to you.

maesyn209 wrote:

No theI IMac is not does not have the value to be recycled

A computer doesn't have to have "value" to be recycled. In fact, if it does have value, you should do something else with it. If it has NO value, then it should be recycled so that the toxic substances that are part of a computer do not end up in landfills.

Always recycle old hardware!

Unfortunately recycle it your iMac it’s to old and obsolete

Yeah, I just need like a small iMac thanks heart Maesyn

No theI IMac is not does not have the value to be recycled

👍

Yeah, I agree if the iMac 2029 it does not make it does not mean it has value to be recycled

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