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Old computers find new owners

Computers once destined for the local landfill instead are being diverted to needy families in Chelan and Douglas counties.

Community Technology refurbishes old computers, then makes them available to low-income residents. The agency is located in the Community Action Center, 620 Lewis St., Wenatchee. Computers can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. There is no charge for dropping off an old computer, although Community Technology accepts donations.

Joanne Knouf, program director (above left), said her staff tries to revitalize every donated computer, but those that can’t be salvaged are stripped of reusable parts. Any leftover scrap metal is recycled. Hard drives of 10 gigabytes or larger are reused, Knouf said, after they are wiped clean to federal Department of Defense standards. Smaller hard drives are destroyed.

It's a small operation -- the staff consists of Knouf, one volunteer, and three Skilsource students (including Matt Covert, at refurbished computer with new dual-language software, above right). The agency refurbished 187 computers in 2006 and 247 in 2007.

They can't re-do Macs because they don't have a license to reinstall Apple operating systems. The agency does, however, have a license from Microsoft that allows it to guarantee the operating systems in refurbished PCs as new.

Residents who want a re-tooled computer can apply online. Applicants must meet low-income guidelines.

Community Technology also provides computer support and Web site maintenance to nonprofit agencies. Revenues from those projects help support the computer recycling effort.

Staples also accepts computers, monitors, printers and fax machines for recycling. There is a $10 charge for each unit. Staples also offers programs for recycling of ink and toner cartridges, cell phones, digital cameras and batteries. The Wenatchee store is located at 200 Ferry St. More information is available on the Staples Web site.

Office Depot recycles computers and related accessories, and electronics including digital cameras, telephones, cell phones and small televisions. The store sells boxes in which customers place their “tech trash.” A spokesman at the Wenatchee store, located at 915 N. Wenatchee Ave., said the cost of the box covers the cost of recycling. The fees are $5, $10 and $15. Cell phones, PDAs, rechargeable batteries and ink and toner cartridges can be recycled for free. Complete details are available on their web site.

Related links

Community Technology

Engineering a Tough Switch: Getting New Yorkers to Recycle Electronics (NY Times)