Nonprofit with Dartmouth ties recycles, resells electronics
Are you in the market for a good used computer? Or perhaps you own an
outdated machine that you want to dispose of in an environmentally safe
way?
 WinCycle volunteers Kathryn
Patterson (left) and Lois Bromley dismantle a printer/scanner for recycling.
(Photo by Sarah Memmi)
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The solutions to both needs can be found at WinCycle, a nonprofit organization in
Windsor, Vt., that recycles computers, electronics, and office equipment. In
2006 WinCycle kept 40 tons of electronics equipment out of the local waste
stream, and its impact will only continue to grow following a move in September
from cramped quarters in Windsor’s Fire House to a 15,000-square-foot warehouse
on River Street.
The idea for WinCycle started at Dartmouth with William Hochstin, director
of materials management in the Procurement Office. Disposing of
old computer equipment, he says, isn’t a simple task. Electronics can contain
pollutants such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, and must be recycled—never put
into landfills or incinerators. Reselling still-functional equipment comes with
its own set of challenges, such as ensuring the destruction of secure data and
College-licensed software.
“I was getting a lot of requests from individuals and local nonprofit
agencies for computer equipment,” says Hochstin. “But selling used equipment
takes a lot of time, and I can’t provide a warranty. It is difficult to meet
everyone’s needs.
“I felt that with a nonprofit we could better manage recycling and at the
same time help others with good reusable equipment, making the best use of the
resource. I was able to convince others that it was worthwhile.” With help from
many on campus and beyond, Hochstin got WinCycle up and running in 2002.
WinCycle now processes surplus electronic equipment from Dartmouth, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), and
accepts items from the general public (the processing fee is 30 cents per
pound). That equipment is either dismantled and recycled—plastic from computers
is used to make highway sound barriers—or refurbished and sold.
“We recycle everything with a plug,” says John Leigh, waste and recycling
programs manager at DHMC and a WinCyle board member. “WinCycle does a great job
of making it easy for us.
The WinCycle store is open to the public and carries a variety of computers,
monitors, and accessories at accessible prices. “You’d be surprised at the
quality of what they sell. Everything comes with a 30-day warranty,” says
Hochstin.
WinCycle also supplies schools, towns, public libraries, and nonprofits with
computers for reduced fees. Nonprofits that have recently purchased equipment
include the Central Vermont Humane
Society, the Family Place of
Norwich, Vt., the Hartford Historical
Society, Vet to Vet, and Good
Beginnings of Sullivan County.
And though there is a handful of paid staff, volunteer effort is the fuel
that makes WinCycle run. Kathryn and Lyle Patterson are long-time volunteers
who managed the move into the new warehouse space. “Our biggest need is help
with dismantling,” says Kathryn, who is also treasurer of the Board of
Directors. “For people who want to learn about computers, taking them apart is
the best way to start.” Volunteers also repair and test machines for resale and
provide presales advice and training to customers.
Kathryn points out that volunteers earn credits towards equipment purchase,
but says that many dedicate their time simply because “they really believe in
what we do.”
“We need all the help we can get,” says Marion Bates ’00, a research
engineer at Thayer
School of Engineering and WinCycle volunteer and board member. Bates,
who also designed the new WinCycle Web site, is a self-described collector of
unusual and vintage computer equipment. She enjoys the rare finds that come
through the dismantling station and has found a creative use for old equipment
by making coasters and clocks out of logic boards. “If you need free components
for building robots or for art projects, this is a great resource,” she
says.
“WinCycle is viable only because of the incredible amount of volunteer time
people have put into it,” adds John Leigh. “Many systems that DHMC is rolling
over are still useful for lots of applications, especially for families,
schools, and nonprofits. WinCycle contributes to the social goal of reducing
the digital divide by getting good computers into the hands of those who might
not otherwise have them.”
The WinCycle store is located at 28 River Street in Windsor, Vt. and is open
Wednesday through Friday from 12 to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For
more information about purchasing equipment or volunteering, call (802)
674-6320 or visit WinCycle online.
By SARAH MEMMI
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