The local program, which mirrors a national partnership between Goodwill and the computer maker Dell, focuses on channeling expired computers, cords, ink cartridges and other components into a recycling program. Additionally, Goodwill takes PCs and laptops that still have life left in them, cleans and refurbishes them and sells them through its stores or online auctions.
Steve Wesseler, director of business services for Goodwill, said the program diverts discarded technology and accessories from landfills. But it also has generated 14 jobs related to the recycling and it gives donors a chance to buy technology at a low price, Wesseler said.
As part of its outreach to businesses, Goodwill locally has added a part-time employee to contact area businesses and encourage them to donate their used equipment, Goodwill spokeswoman Kim Bramlage said. Moreover, Goodwill is marketing the program through its 28 local stores as well as waste departments in several counties, she said.
Dennis Osterfeld, resource solutions manager with Goodwill, said individuals, rather than businesses, make up the larger share of Goodwill’s donor pool. But the organization also has been increasing its outreach to area companies, alerting them that, if they have computers and other equipment to donate, Goodwill wants it.
The organization’s staff scrubs the hard drives to standards required by the U.S. Department of Defense, cleans the equipment and loads an operating system and software onto the machines. In some cases, they will remove the hard drive completely.
Wesseler said the organization on a monthly basis sends 50 units to local stores and another 50 onto online auction sites.
David Salisbury, an associate professor at the University of Dayton, said deleting files through a computer’s recycle bin doesn’t immediately remove them from the hard drive. Instead, they need to use such software specifically designed to erase stored files from the drive, he said.
Salisbury suggests that individuals and businesses who donate computers wipe the hard drives themselves instead of leaving it to the recipient, he said.
He also suggests clearing the CD drive to make sure you haven’t left discs filled with back-up data inside the machine.
People need to think about the type of data stored on their computers, whether it is credit card numbers or personal health data, he said.
He offered the following analogy: “I have a big metal file cabinet here that I keep paper files in,” he said. “If I were to donate this file cabinet to Goodwill to give to somebody, would I not pull everything out of it?”
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