Large federal offices are full of desktop computers, printers, and various other electronics that are typically replaced every three to four years to keep the workplaces up to date. But what happens to all of the old electronics that is replaced? Often, the heavy-metal laced office waste is diverted to landfills, where chemicals have a chance to seep into the soil and water systems.
But not all offices are created equally. Thanks to diligent efforts and a computer exchange program that is a model for other organizations, the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recycled more than 53,000 computer-related items since 2006, weighing in excess of one million pounds.
The endeavor amounts to $318,000 in savings from credits issued by retailers for future computer purchases. Also impressive is the environmentally safe processing of 96,716 pounds of lead – and they have the EPA certificate to prove it.
The program recycles monitors, printers, servers, cables, and keyboards as well as servers.
The ATO’s goal is to replace all personal computers (PC) every four years. This program allows them to do that with minimal environmental impact while also deriving value out of the old equipment.
The exchange happens painlessly, thanks to a contract with Dell that has the company take the old unwanted items back when they deliver new equipment. For each PC, the ATO earns more than a hundred dollars in credits towards the purchase of new equipment.
Data security is always a concern when recycling computers and the contract covers that as well. Each system marked for recycling is overwritten by the contractor prior to removal and certified as "clean" or data neutral.
There is one additional benefit to the program: its efficiency. Richard Boe, manager of the group that runs the computer exchange program, said, “it takes us about five days to get a piece of equipment out of the system today, compared to about a year using the old disposal process.”
Three cheers to the ATO for creating a program that is environmentally friendly, cost effective, and efficient!
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