[FreeGeek] Local Recycle & Reuse Hits A Bureaucratic Roadblock

[Simon Pavitt]

Hi geekers

Although this is from the US, following the last meeting this story rang 
some bells:

"Let's imagine that you set up a non-profit to recycle electronics and 
divert computers from going directly into landfills or otherwise being 
destroyed by a grinder. You look for ways to refurbish these components 
and possibly recombine them into functional computers that go out to 
areas and institutions that have difficulty obtaining computers.

You might even collect some of the vintage electronics that comes 
through the door and hang on to this stuff because you think it's cool 
and somebody may want it someday. Yes, your place looks a bit like a 
junkyard but it's one that employs people to do something with the junk 
you collect.

And while you have organized these efforts as a charity, you have 
figured out how to break even from providing these recycling services 
and you don't need donations or government support. You do all this and 
then a government inspector drops in one day....."

"James [Burgett] told me that he was disappointed that the state seemed 
to be "actively discouraging the highest and best environment reuse." He 
said the state pays a firm to destroy the electronics; it doesn't pay 
him to refurbish and reuse these components, which is much harder. It 
doesn't pay to do this, he admits, but James and the ACCRC have found a 
way to make it work. I hope James and ACCRC can work their way around 
this particular roadblock. "

O'Reilly Radar [radar.oreilly.com/archives/2007/09/local_recycle_r.html]
Alameda County Computer Resource Center [www.accrc.org]
Aftermath Technologies [aftermath-technologies.blogspot.com]

-- 

Thanks

Simon

========================================
simon pavitt
www.headware.co.uk

it's not hardware, it's not software, it's headware
========================================