Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Campaign

Troop 384

October 17th-18^th, 2008 – Rancho Community Church

Overview

Troop 384 will be conducting a city-wide campaign to reduce e-waste on Friday, October 17^th and Saturday, October 18^th from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  The collection site will be Rancho Community Church, located at 31300 Rancho Community Way, Temecula, CA.

Funds raised from this event will provide leadership development and summer camp sponsorship for the youth scouts in Troop 384.

Our partner in this campaign is Computers & Education a California nonprofit, and Computer Recycling Center (CRC), located in Santa Rosa, California. Founded in 1991, Computer Recycling Center is the oldest continuously operating full-service collection, reuse and refurbishment program in the United States. Working with businesses and municipalities, CRC’s collection and reuse of computers and electronic equipment diverts millions of pounds of e-waste from landfills each year. Reuse of entire computer units is given highest priority, followed by disassembly for reuse of parts and finally recycling for the elements of unusable remaining items.  Over one million computer systems have either been reused or recycled.

Donated items will be checked upon collection to better evaluate their usage. Items will be sorted into custom bins and boxes to protect items from damage in collection and transit. Through this program, scouts will be completing their requirements for “Citizenship in the Community” and gain a greater knowledge of computer usage and refurbishment.

Computer Recycling Center is registered with the DTSC California Department of Toxic Substances and the CIWMB California Integrated Waste Management Board and collects SB20/50 (California Electronic Recycling Act of 2003).

Refurbished Computers

As a commitment to Troop 384’s commitment to Reduce-Reuse- Recycle, Computers and Education is donating $10,000 worth of refurbished computers. These computers will be awarded to organizations providing service and care to the youth of Temecula Valley.  Computers & Education has a proven effective computer reuse program in place, and has been providing refurbished computers to teachers, schools, community programs, foster kids and home-bound disabled through city and county agencies. Scouts will be taught how to establish a granting program through program inception, review and granting.

Why Recycle?

The Reuse and Recycling of computers and related electronics saves much needed earth-resources that are required to produce this equipment. Resources such as water and energy are spared. The EPA has calculated that we save $670.00 in earth natural resources by Reusing a computer system. Help us keep the earth green, reduce greenhouse gasses and emissions, save our natural resources and reduce pollution. The EPA reports that 3 million pounds per day of electronics and computer equipment is taken out-of-service. Where is all that e-waste going?

What we are recycling

Working and non-working computers (both desktop and laptop), monitors, printers (ink jet, laser, all-in-one), cables, computer accessories or peripherals (mouse, keyboard, scanner), telephone network and test equipment, televisions, flat panels, office and industrial electronics, cable circuit boards, AC adaptors, circuit boards, cell phones, batteries, ink and laser cartridges. All electronics with a battery or a plug will be accepted.

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition reports that Consumers Union estimates 80,000,000 (eighty-million) analog TV’s will be recycled starting in February 2009 when all TV programming goes digital. One out of every 8 people in the United States lives in California, equaling approximately 10 million TV’s to be recycled.

What happens to you computer data?

We suggest that you wipe your hard drive. If we reuse your hard drive, we use Disk Wipe software to overwrite and install a new operating system. We shred all other hard drives for metals recycling. Visit our website for more information.

What we are NOT recycling

Kitchen appliances, microwaves, car batteries (please dispose of through city toxic clean-up days), washer and dryers, chemicals, Styrofoam, cardboard or paper.

How you can help

If you’re interested in donating computer equipment for reuse or recycling you can help us by promoting this campaign through your family and friends and your place of employment. Bring your equipment to our collection site on October 17^th and 18^th.

If you cannot make it to our event on October 17^th and 18^th, please visit www.troop384.myscoutlink.com for more information.

If your business has 1 or more laptops, or 10 or more computers/monitors, you may request a business pick-up.

Don’t curb those old computers, recycle and reboot them. Just like old clothes, old computers have a place to go. Put your used electronics to work as a valuable resource in the community. Everyone wins in this situation, youths in need of computers get access to the information superhighway, the environment wins by keeping e-waste out of landfills, and Troop 384 gets the opportunity to participate in community service and provide youth leadership training.

Watch for marketing and promotional pieces on our website. For more information, please contact Michele Smith at (951) 587-1812.