Free Geek
Source: Tom's Guide | Keywords: ewaste, recycle, phones | Themes: The Internet
5. Free Geek
Free Geek
Aside from warm fuzzies for doing a responsible good deed, such as helping the environment or the underprivileged, or getting a bit of cash thrown your way, e-waste service donors don’t usually get much benefit from sending in gear for recycling.
But what if I told you that a service will teach you how to refurbish a recycled computer in exchange for a donation of 24 hours of your time?
“Free Geek does most of its work with volunteers (at any given time, about 500 are active),” according to the organization’s site. “The volunteers disassemble the donated equipment and test the components, which are either recycled as electronic scrap or recycled into refurbished systems. These refurbished computers are then loaded with Open Source Software, such as GNU/Linux, Open Office and other free applications.”
In order to learn how to refurbish computers or perform any number of tasks, like coding, you need to only dedicate 24 hours of your time to Free Geek. During your tenure with the organization, you’ll help them acquire and test computers, and get them ready for refurbishing or adoption. You could also end up with a free refurbished computer, if you desire one.
In order to stay afloat, Free Geek runs a Thrift Store where you can buy deeply discounted tech. But if you don’t want to volunteer and you’d rather just send your old computers off, the company will happily oblige. Simply head over to its site, print a shipping label and send the computer to Free Geek.
If you want to take advantage of Free Geek’s training programs, you’ll need to live in or visit Portland, Ore., where the Community Technology Center is located. But even if you can’t attend yourself, you’ll know that other people are learning valuable skills with the computer or parts you donated.
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AT&T also sponsors a program called Cell Phones for Soldiers, where you can donate used cell phones to be recycled and help pay for prepaid calling cards for our soldiers to call home.
Why isn't my Nokia 3210 in the list on ebay? It's not that old is it?
For those of you that can't figure out what to do with the old stuff, Best Buy in the U.S.A. will accept electronic junk at no charge and ship it to dedicated electronics recyclers. This is not a donation - no charitable tax receipts can be given - but Best Buy can make sure that toasted monitor (hazardous waste) in your basement does not end up in a landfill before it has been properly recycled. Contact a manager at your nearest Best Buy for more details on their recycling program if this sounds like something you could use.
Free Geek isn't just for people in Oregon. People have started Free Geek branches in cities all over North America. I volunteer at Free Geek Vancouver, and we're just as happy to recycle your old junk as the one in Portland.