[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Andrew_Cooper.jpg” caption=”Andrew Cooper poses by some of the old computers donated to the Surplus Computer Donation Program. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay “]Two things McMaster prides itself on – state-of-the-art technology and recycling – have a lot in common. When the university updates its technology, the old equipment gets a second life.

Through a Surplus Computer Donation Program, the University encourages offices and departments that are upgrading electronic or clearing out older models and getting rid of working computers, hard drives, monitors or CD-Roms, to consider donating the old equipment to a non-profit organization called “Computers for Schools”. This organization reuses the computers in classrooms at elementary and high schools across Ontario.

“Not only does this program benefit the environment, it helps further the educational opportunities of Ontario's students,” says Andrew Cooper, a McMaster environmental assistant. He says often people aren't sure what to do with their old computers and many times the equipment is fully-functioning and can still be of use to someone. “We pride ourselves in offering state-of-the-art technology, but because of the high turnover of a lot of equipment goes to waste,” he says.

To donate computers you first need to assess the donation. “Computers for Schools” doesn't have the resources to repair damaged products, and can only make use of computers that are Pentium II – 300MHz and up. Make sure that your product meets their specifications. You must ensure that the equipment you are clearing out is valued a under $2,000; you should consult McMaster's Disposal of University Surplus Assets (P-160) document (to view this document, click here).

Second, make sure you “sanitize” the hard drive, clearing off any licensed McMaster University software and confidential information. More information on this process can be found >a href=”http://www.mcmaster.ca/cis/ITsecurity/harddisk.htm#disposal”>here.

Finally, count the computers/electronics you wish to get rid of. “Computers for Schools” can only do direct pick up of orders of more than 20 pieces. If your order is large enough, contact Christina Obeng, the administrator of the Ontario program at cobeng@cfso.ca, or by phone at 905-795-2931 or fax 905-795-5240.

If you have less than 20 pieces, you can have them brought to ABB-B166 Stores, where they'll be collected when a larger number have accumulated. Contact Christina Gulewitsch at ext. 24668 or gulewit@mcmaster.ca to let her know ahead of time that more computers will be arriving. You can put in a request to have your items picked up through Physical Plant Customer Service (ext. 24740, or online here). The approximate prices for transportation are as follows: 1-5 computers = $15, 5 or more = minimum $30.

If your computer is broken or too slow to be of use, and you still want to get rid of it in an environmentally friendly way, follow the three-step process as above, but when you request to have it picked up, indicate that the computer cannot be reused, and it will be brought to a special “electronics-only” collection area to be processed in a different fashion.

These costs are the same if the computers are recycled or taken to the designated electronic waste collection area, and its every bit as easy to have them go to a good cause as it is to have them junked, Cooper says.

He adds that computers are not the only office recyclables. Old cell phone batteries and empty printer cartridges also can be reused. Empty ink cartridges should be placed in the original packaging or a sealed, labeled envelope addressed to Mail Services, MGD-B109 and left in the outgoing mailbox. Grand & Toy then picks up the cartridges from Mail Services and recycles them.

MACgreen, the environmental service of the MSU, also has launched a campaign called “The Paper Trail” to reduce virgin paper consumption. One part of this campaign involves collecting one-sided scrap paper and binding it into notebooks to sell in Titles.

If you have any non-confidential scrap paper in your office that you would be willing to give to MACgreen for this project, e-mail green@msu.admin.mcmaster.ca. Someone from MACgreen can come by at regular intervals to pick up your recycled paper and sort out any unusable paper.