Dude, you’re getting a recycled Dell.
Dell Computer Corp., in conjunction with the National Cristina Foundation, hosted a free technology recycling day at Ohio State’s Buckeye Lot North on Saturday.
Volunteers unloaded used computers, monitors and keyboards in an effort to raise awareness of computer donation and recycling.
Columbus is the second stop on a five-city tour where residents are invited to drop off their unwanted electronic equipment and computers for free. The other cities include Nashville, Tenn., Charlotte, N.C, Portland, Ore., Round Rock, Texas, and Austin, Texas.
“The goal of the tour is to collect 100 tons of computer and electronics equipment by April 27, and we’re very confident we’ll meet that,” said Michele Glaze, Dell spokeswoman.
Glaze said the goal for Columbus was to collect 16.5 tons of technology equipment, and eight tons had already been donated by 10:30 a.m. The day finished with 45 volunteers from 10 different groups, 414 vehicles and 30 tons of donated equipment.
John Ellinger, director of operations for the Office of Information Technology, said Dell contacted the university and provided the trucks and recycling, while OSU helped with volunteers, delivery coordination and location.
“It’s good for people who are just cleaning out their basements. They can come and recycle the computers they would normally throw in the Dumpster,” Ellinger said.
He said he hopes to make the technology recycling day with Dell an annual event.
Volunteers from Keep Columbus Beautiful were on hand to help collect equipment.
Mike Pickard, program manager for Keep Columbus Beautiful, said its role in the event was to contact media and recruit volunteers. They also did internal work like city wide fliers and e-mail.
“It is a great effort on Dell’s part to accept any make or model of computers, not just Dell computers and recycle them for free,” Pickard said. “It is a great environmentally safe program.”
Tammy Wilson of Honda dropped off seven van-loads of equipment. She said she brought about 50 monitors and 20-30 printers.
“It’s so easy,” Wilson said of the recycling, “and it saves a lot of money.”
Honda’s donation was estimated at about a half ton.
Dell recycling events have not only minimized waste in landfills, they have provided computer technology to people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged people.
Since December of 2001, Dell and the National Cristina Foundation have worked to ensure used computers that no longer meet one person’s needs are given a second productive life.
“Pentium defines the speed of a computer and computers, that are Pentium One are re-conditioned and donated to local charities,” Glaze said.
She explained that the NCF has about 4,000 members, all of which are appropriate recipients of used but still useful computers. In each city the NCF selects two organizations who are members of the NCF and donates the used computers to them.
Arc of Ohio and the Eldon Ward branch of the YMCA were the chosen organizations for Columbus.
“The National Cristina Foundation believes in empowering people, and technology and computers are a source of empowerment,” Glaze said. “No matter if you’re mentally or physically disabled, computers can help people lead more productive lives.”
Glaze said the recycling day would not have been such a success without the help of OSU and Keep Columbus Beautiful.
“It’s great to work with local people and organizations who really care about recycling and doing what’s right,” she said.
Dell offers home pick-up through Dell Recycling for consumers who want to donate or recycle unwanted computers. Those interested in computer recycling should remove all data from the hard drive. Floppy disks and PC cards should also be removed. For information, visit www.dell4me.com/recycling.
