Local Organizations That Accept
Used Computers and TVs for Reuse or Recycling
Wisconsin recently passed WI Act 50 (http://www.legis.state.wi.us/2009/data/acts/09Act50.pdf),
which is a statewide law that requires manufacturers of electronics to provide Wisconsin
residents with free recycling of certain electronics. Dane County makes no guarantee
that the companies listed below participate in the statewide free recycling program.
For more information, residents may contact the companies listed below directly.
An interactive list of recycling locations can be found on the DNR's website at
http://dnr.wi.gov/wastemgmt/wm/wmexternal/ShellReportViewer.aspx?RID=14. For
more information on this program, you can also visit the WI DNR's consumer information
website at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ecycle/electronics.html.
Nationally, an estimated 10-15 million computers are discarded annually. Prorated
to Dane County, this means that some 15 to 25 thousand are discarded each year,
although the number could be far higher due to our large student population.
Computers contain a number of toxic and hazardous materials, including lead, cadmium,
mercury and flame retardants. Businesses and households are prohibited from discarding
these materials into landfills. The following is a list of known places that will
either reuse or recycle old computers, not only reducing the landfill needs, but
also putting back into use valuable components.
- American TV, see this website:
http://www.jsonline.com/business/49048146.html
- Best Buy, see this website:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?type=category&id=pcmcat149900050025&DCMP=rdr0001422
- Cascade Asset Management, LLC, 6701 Manufacturers Drive, Madison, WI 53704,
222-4800
Cascade accepts any and all computer and computer related equipment from businesses.
Businesses may choose to have cascade refurbish and resell equipment, donate working
computers to charity, or disassemble equipment for recycling. A rebate is returned
to customers for 50% of the net revenue generated from the resale of refurbished
or recycled equipment. Cascade charges a fee to collect and inventory equipment,
wipe hard drives, and responsibly recycle computer equipment in accordance with
the law. Cascade accepts all drives, and responsibly recycle computer equipment
in accordance with the law. Cascade accepts all CRTs for glass-to-glass recycling.
All other equipment is sent directly to other recycling firms, not brokers. Also,
see their web page at http://www.cascade-assets.com
- Credence Computer Services, 1501 Progress Lane, Stoughton, 53589, 873-6639,
David
Sells used systems on consignment; will accept any systems or equipment. Will take
some components that don’t work. LCD monitors, computer boxes, wiring call for more information.
- File 13 E-Waste Solutions, LLC, 4903 Commerce Ct, McFarland WI 53558, 838-8813
File 13 accepts e-waste from homes, businesses, medical offices, schools and government offices.
All types of electronics are accepted. File 13 charges a fee to collect and catalogue e-waste,
certify hard drive destruction, and certify ethical recycling of end of life electronics. We will
pick up material for a fee and customers can drop it off at our facility for a fee.
For more information: http://www.file13usa.com.
- Gary's Appliance Repair, 2405 Vondron Road, Madison, WI 53718, 221-1150
Computers, nominal charge will apply for most items.
- Goodwill
Goodwill accepts any brand of computer equipment in any condition and just about
anything that can be attached to a computer. A list of items can be found at
http://reconnectpartnership.com/items.php
There is not a fee and there is no limit per person. Donors are responsible for
backing up any valuable information and erasing sensitive data from the hard drive
before dropping it off. Dell and Goodwill Industries do not accept liability for
lost or confidential data or software. Hard drives do not need to be removed.
Equipment may be dropped off at:
Madison East - 2127 East Springs Dr. (246-1990)
Madison West - 4530 Verona Rd. (271-0048)
Middleton - 6661 University Ave. (836-3120)
Monona - 2501 Royal Ave. (224-0780)
Donation center hours and other information is available
at www.goodwillscwi.org.
- Habitat ReStore, 208 Cottage Grove Road, Madison, (608) 661-2813, 5906 Odana Dr. Madison WI.
(We can no longer accept used TV’s or computer monitors.)
Is now accepting used electronics, through a new partnership with Vintage Tech
Recyclers. Residents will be able to recycle outdated and unwanted electronics at
the Habitat ReStore during regular store hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5
p.m.
The items that will be accepted include: computers, laptops, monitors, LCD’s, cell
phones, printers, scanners, modems, CD drives, cables, keyboards, mice, VCR’s,
DVD players, camcorders, cameras, game players and joysticks; telephones,
pagers, answering machines, typewriters, calculators, adding machines, fax
machines, copiers, postage meters and microwaves.
All items are free to drop-off, except for microwaves in which there is a $10 donation
per item. Also, all personal data is guaranteed to be safely and securely destroyed,
through the Habitat ReStore’s partnership with Vintage Tech Recyclers.
Items can be dropped off near the front of the Habitat ReStore with donations for
televisions, computer monitors, and microwaves to be made with the cashier.
For more information, call (608) 661-2813 or visit
www.restoredane.org/electronicrecycling
- Janssen Computer Corp , call for an appointment, (608) 575-8562
- Madison Computer Works, 353 Island Drive, Madison, 53705, 231-8000
Does not take used equipment as trade-ins, but will sell used equipment (less than
3 years old for desktops, older for laptops or notebooks) on consignment. Does not
salvage parts from components.
- Madison Metropolitan School District, Lynda Chen, 663-5423
The Madison School District is interested in donations of computer equipment with
the specifications listed on their web page for computer donations,
https://techsvcweb.madison.k12.wi.us/donation
- Madison Recycling Center, 2200 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, 251-2115
Recycles all electronics for a fee based on weight. No appliances accepted.
- Midwest Lamp Recycling Inc., 3224 Kingsley Way, Madison, WI 53713, 275-6766
Accepts all electronic products for recycling, except those with CFCs. There is
a charge for most items.
- Resource Solutions, 5493 Express Circle, Madison, 53704, 244-5451, Lance
Hahn
Demanufactures all computer and electronic scrap. Accepts any and all computers,
computer related equipment and any electronic equipment from businesses and the
public. Offers pick up services for large amounts of electronic equipment and has
a drop-off. For more information, see http://www.recyclethatstuff.com.
- RetroTech Computer Corp, Madison, 53703, 251-8637, Carl DuRocher
A non-profit volunteer organization. Accepts computers and peripherals and refurbishes
them for reutilization by disadvantaged persons or groups. Volunteers benefit from
supervision that provides technical skills. RetroTech takes P3 PC systems or above,
Macs that can run OS 10. Laptops are especially appreciated. Tax deductible receipt.
By appointment or retrotech@gdinet.com.
- Staples,
4538 Verona Road Madison, WI 53711, 608-271-1821
6580 Monona Drive Monona, WI 53716, 608-216-0931
Staples recycles Dell® branded computers, monitors and printers for FREE. Other
brands are $10 per item. Staples also allows you to trade in your technology with
their on line program. This on line program gives you a Staples coupon for you to
use on your next purchase. Trade in items include: Notebook PC's, Desktop PC's,
Game Systems, Digital Cameras, MP3 Players, LCD Monitors, Camcorders, and Smartphones/PDA's.
Staples also recycles cell phones for free at all of their stores. For more information,
visit:
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/04/12/hp-staples-offer-free-e-recycling/.
- The Computer Store West, 7475 Mineral Point Road, Madison, 53717, 833-7050,
fax 833-4337
Store will recycle computers and purchases some material, contact the store for
more information. Does not accept CRT's or inkjet printers.
- The Volunteer Center, 246-4380
The Volunteer Center is listed in the want ads of the Wisconsin State Journal and
The Capital Times, describing volunteer positions with non-profit groups available
in Dane County.
They maintain a list of requests from groups for equipment, including computer equipment,
but it is by no means comprehensive. It would be a worthwhile task for some organization
to maintain such a list.
People with computer equipment to donate can contact them to see if there are some
requests.
- Remachines, 30 W. Mifflin St #404, Madison WI 53703, 608-205-8668
Remachines accepts e-waste from homes, businesses, schools and government offices.
All types of electronics are accepted (except hazardous materials and light bulbs).
Remachines charges a fee of $20.00 for TV's and $10.00 for CRT monitors, otherwise everything is free.
The material is reused, recycled and/or refurbished. More information is available
at: http://www.remachines.com
National and International Organizations that Accept Computer Donations
- East-West Foundation, 23 Drydock Avenue, Boston, MA, (617)261-6699, ewf@eastwest.org,
http://www.eastwestministries.org/
The East West Foundation accepts computer equipment for donation to non-profits
groups both in the US and other countries.
Driven by the market, and the cost of recycling equipment that they cannot use,
they are not able to accept any computers lower than 486 generation as a donation.
(They will accept 386 or lower if the equipment is accompanied with a check (tax-deductible
donation) that covers the following costs which ensures that equipment does not
end up in landfills: $8/monitor (B/W, monochrome, broken color); $6/cpu; $6/fax
machine; $6/printer; $1/keyboard; $1/each "other" peripheral.)
With regard to usable donations, in addition to 486 and 586 generation computers,
color VGA and SVGA monitors, they are very interested in any hard drive larger than
350MB; CD-ROMs from 6X up; modems (28.8 or higher); memory (4, 8, 16 MB).
The shipping cost for sending this organization any of this equipment is tax-deductible.
Please contact them if any additional information is desired.
Will not take computers for reuse or recycling
Will not take computers for reuse or recycling
- A Complete Computer Source, 3202 W. Beltline Hwy
New equipment only -- doesn’t take used equipment.
- Verona Public Schools
Does not accept used computers as donations. In fact, they wanted to know where
they could get rid of obsolete equipment that no longer was working.
The listings here are not an endorsement of any company or its services or products.
Please call individual firms for confirmation of their current policies. Corrects
to the compiler are most appreciated.
Compiled by John Welch, 267-8815