Recycle your PC Today!

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Free Geek and New England Tech Recycling Day

One week from today Free Geek Providence and New England Tech are teaming up to recycle your old computer* equipment. It helps you clean up the environment by keeping old computers from going to the landfill. It also helps you reclaim your closet or basement from old electronics. HOT 106.3 FM and Pawtucket Red Sox mascot will be joining the event.

The event is to be held at New England Tech, Saturday July 25, 2009.

New England Tech

2500 Post Road,Warwick, RI

9am to 1pm

*a $10 fee is applied to CRT type monitors

Recycling your PC

Free Geek Providence and New England Tech are teaming up to recycle your old computer equipment. It helps you clean up the environment by keeping old computers from going to the landfill. It also helps you reclaim your closet or basement from old electronics.

The event is to be held at New England Tech, Saturday July 25, 2009.

New England Tech

2500 Post Road,Warwick, RI

9am to 1pm

What is Free Geek?

Technorati Tags: freegeek,free,geek,computer,recycle,electronic,recycling,providence,rhode island,ri,donate,reuse,linux,pc,personal computer

You may have noticed in some of my past posts mentioning “Free Geek” . I’ll attempt explain a little further. In a short and simple explanation they “Help the needy get nerdy” .  Here is the official mission statement from Free Geek of Providence "Free Geek Providence is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to addressing the digital divide by providing computer training, redistributing computer technology and providing volunteer opportunities to our community while maintaining relationships with responsible recycling partners."

They are a non-profit group that helps those who perhaps can’t either afford or uninitiated get acquainted with computers. The goal is to provide both training in both building and using a PC. They use free Linux operating system that is both free and relatively simple to use. On top of that they can walk away with a PC they build themselves or earn by volunteering  for the group for certain amount of time.

They do this using donated equipment. Computer stuff that is donated is gone through and tested. If obsolete is it is sent to a local responsible recycler rather than just sent over seas or dumped in the local landfill. Here is a video of what can happen to your old stuff from 60 Minutes. If it is reusable it is used for building units either for the volunteers(to earn) or for sale in a thrift store or online.

This is just a small snippet of what they do for the community. If your in the Rhode Island area and are interested in donating unused computer equipment click here to see more. The Free Geek that started it all can be seen here. Thanks for coming by and have a geeky day. What do you do with your old computer stuff?

Recycling day in Rhode Island

Today was the day I recycled some of my old stuff that didn't work anymore. It was time to part with four tired and non-working CRT monitors. I went down to the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp in Johnston. A company called CRT Recycling accepts the computers and other electronics. Like I said before it's actually quite simple. You drive up and they empty your vehicle for you. Now I gained some space in my garage again. I wish I could have taken some of those PC's home with me. Oh well. Here are some pictures I took on my adventure.

What to do with old PC's

You can give them to me of course. All kidding aside I do seem to collect old worn out equipment over time and it begins to clutter my work area and garage. What do you do with old stuff. More than likely your local laws and programs may differ. For the most part you can't just throw out PC's with the garbage. They contain some hazardous materials that should be recycled or disposed of properly.

Here in Rhode Island the local recycling facility(aka:The Johnston landfill) which services most of the state hosts a local drop off about once a month. Officially known as Rhode Island Resource Recovery has just posted a new schedule for 2009 with one last drop off this coming Saturday Dec 6. . They are usually held on Saturdays 8am-Noon. It's a fairly simple process. You drive up and they unload your vehicle for you. No need to get out. I'm going this Saturday to clean out some old monitors and some other miscellaneous items. What do you do with your old and tired equipment?

Computer collection

Eco-Depot (part of Rhode Island Resource Recovery) in Johnston ,RI is holding another computer (e-waste) collection on Saturday April 12, 2008. I've still got a couple of monitors I'm going to bring(along with old motor oil)to the collection. To see full schedule click here. It's a good time to do the spring cleaning.

Recycling computers

Being known as a computer guy i tend to get peoples cast off and obsolete equipment. I don't mind this a bit and I'm always on the look out for stuff. On the other hand though I do end up collecting stuff that just doesn't work or I have no use for. What do I do with that stuff? Well one way to deal with this stuff is to recycle or dispose of it. Unfortunately much of the stuff you can't just throw in the weekly trash pick up. Especially monitors(CRT type) as they contain hazardous materials and such.

Here in Rhode Island they have a program and the central landfill in Johnston, Rhode Island where they collect computer stuff. It's quite easy too you just load up your vehicle with your computer stuff and bring it. You don't even have to get out of your vehicle they come and empty it for you. It's quite painless. I do it at least a couple of times a year. For more info you can check out the Rhode Island Resource Recovery website for a schedule. I just cleaned out my garage today because I'm planning to go tomorrow. For those that live outside of Rhode Island you can check out Earth911.org for further information regarding recycling PC's and other items.