Goodwill Offers e-Recycling

 Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA Area, Inc. operated eCycle, a free electronic drop-off program for recycling and hard-drive cleansing of unwanted computers for over one year and in that short period, has recycled 29 tons of electronic components. In the United States some 100 million computers, monitors and other kinds of electronic equipment become obsolete annually. Each discarded computer contains about four pounds of lead, much of which leaches into the ground and water supply. In addition to lead, electronics can contain chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium, nickel, zinc, and dangerous flame retardants. When electronics are not disposed of or recycled properly, these toxic materials can present serious environmental problems.

Electronic recycling is gradually becoming mandatory in Europe. In 2003, California banned the dumping of computers and televisions in all landfills. Minnesota, Maine, Maryland, and Washington added similar statutes to their books in 2005 as well.  While no such law currently exists in West Virginia, Goodwill’s program provides the public with a responsible way to recycle computer equipment that will take the dangerous materials contained in them out of our landfills.

In the past, Goodwill has accepted donated computers and electronics for sale in their retail stores, but recently they have limited those donations to avoid equipment that either did not work or was too old to be saleable. Now eCycle accepts all non-working or outdated computers and components, printers, scanners or fax machines and cell phones at each of its retail stores and donation centers or at the Industrial Contracts Center at 525 19th Street West, Huntington. Donors do not need to worry about leaving personal information behind, either.

At the camera-monitored, secure facility, trained workers sort and evaluate the donated equipment. Computers that meet minimum standards are refurbished if possible - with the hard drives wiped clean - and resold in a Goodwill retail store where the proceeds support Goodwill’s job training and placement programs. If it cannot be refurbished, workers clean the computer’s hard-drive, de-manufacture the equipment, sort the component parts, and prepare them for recycling.  Each donor may request a certificate verifying that the donated hard-drive has been cleaned to the Department of Defense wiping standards to remove all sensitive or personal material. For customers who simply want a clean computer slate, Goodwill will clean computer hard-drives at $10 per computer. Although the 8:00 am to 4:00 pm drop-off service is free, businesses may call the center (304/429-3261) to discuss quotes for on-site equipment pick-up.