USD Reducing its Electronic Waste

May 03, 2010 - by University of San Diego

( Full article: Sustainability at the University of San Diego )

According to the EPA, in one year Americans dispose of over 200 million computer products -- CPUs, monitors, notebooks, keyboards, mice, printers, etc. Only about 18% is recycled. Businesses and individuals often just don’t know what to do with it. Some don’t recycle because they fear that sensitive information on hard drives could fall into the wrong hands. Others aren’t aware that electronic equipment contains toxic substances like lead, mercury and cadmium that shouldn’t go into a landfill. How is USD solving this high-tech hassle?

One approach to eliminating USD’s techno-trash is through a new relationship with Insight Investments, an Orange County firm whose Financial Services and Systems Exchange divisions are on the leading edge of electronics recycling, computer refurbishing, and lease/buyback programs. Their process begins with acquiring off-lease PCs which they wipe according to Department of Defense specification, then update and refurbish them into nearly new machines through a team of A+ certified technicians. Resale prices for large orders range from about $250 for a desktop to $400 for a laptop including a 3-year warranty (Dell and HP certified) and fully-licensed software. The lower cost and repair support makes their products popular with K-12 schools, small and medium businesses, and a growing number of colleges and universities. Insight Investments also leases new PCs, Macs, servers, data storage, and most other office technology used in higher education.

In February USD staff took a tour of the Insight Systems Exchange facility in Orange County where thousands of personal computers are recycled each year.

About 75% of computers that Insight sells to K-12 schools are purchased from other leasing companies and large corporate users. Bad or broken components are collected for recycling each month under California’s Electronic Waste Recycling Act (SB 20), but 95% of previously leased computers can be redeployed to schools. Insight ships over 100,000 units per year, with revenue in 2009 of more than $20 million.

 

Sales are expected to grow annually by as much as 30%, indicating an increasing acceptance of recycled technology, not only to save money but also to address e-waste issues.

“We have a growing number of higher education clients who specifically ask us about e-waste,” observed Darren Lang, Director of National Sales for Insight Financial Services. “It’s not just how much the lease will cost, but they also want to know how our services can help reduce, reuse and recycle technology so it doesn’t end up in a land fill.”

A percentage of businesses and organizations will always buy new top of the line computers, but others see recycled units as a win-win that helps them stretch their budgets while supporting sustainability.

“Some use technology to keep ahead, some use it to keep up, and some use it poorly,” noted Joe Prochelo, Vice President of ISE Sales. “Our customers typically aren’t those who buy new computers every 6-12 months. The majority is schools or municipal governments that need to upgrade their computers every 3-5 years, or those who have been struggling with severely outdated equipment because they thought they couldn’t afford anything else.”

The University of San Diego recently began leasing its Hewlett Packard PCs and Apple Macintosh computers from Insight Financial Services on a three-year cycle. The equipment is new rather than refurbished, but after the lease term ends, it will be picked up by Insight and reconditioned for further use.

“Given USD’s emphasis on sustainability, it’s important to know that our computers will be recycled after our lease is over,” said Liza Peterson Gary, Budget & Operations Manager for USD Information Technology Services. “Insight Systems Exchange also operates a green facility, provides employment and training for its community, donates equipment to needy organizations, and we’re looking for ways we can work together to recycle even more.”

While USD is addressing e-waste at the institutional level, recycling can still be a problem for computers at home. Check in most garages or storage spaces and you’re bound to find quite a bit of e-waste gathering dust in electronic limbo. USD therefore is sponsoring e-waste recycling events on campus for faculty, students, staff and the community, including the most recent during Earth Week 2010. Contact USD General Services for more information at 619 260-4536 about what to do with your home or office e-waste.

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