Michael Smith, President/CEO of Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh, presented an overview of their computer recycling program as part of the Joint Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee’s Environmental Issues Forum this week.

Since the program began over 1 million pounds of computer equipment has been recycled or refurbished by the Goodwill program that takes in over 20,000 computers every year.

In addition to recovering valuable materials and reselling computers, the program is designed to provide work experience and skills training for up to 100 welfare-to-work participants.

Goodwill sells refurbished computers and monitors through a special ComputerWorks of South Side located at 2600 East Carson Street in Pittsburgh and through its other retail outlets in the Pittsburgh Region.

Goodwill partners with Dell computer’s Reconnect Pittsburgh Project, the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the Department of Public Welfare to run the program.

Smith says the program depends on individual donations of computers, but encourages any businesses looking to retire their computer equipment to contact Goodwill in Pittsburgh and become part of this no-cost program.

The Goodwill program only accepts computers and monitors for recycling, not other electronics.

Goodwill also offers the “Kil-A-Byte” program to businesses and individuals to provide a safe, affordable and guaranteed way to permanently destroy information on computer hard drives that meets Department of Defense and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requirements.

Individuals and businesses can also recycle their injet and laser printer cartridges through “Operation Good-Brother” that provides additional work experiences for disabled and welfare-to-work participants. For more information on how to participate, call 800-290-4444.

Smith noted Goodwill, which was founded in 1902, was one of the original recycling organizations for clothes, household goods and other items.

For more information, visit the Goodwill Industries of Pittsburgh website or call 412-481-9005.

The Joint Committee is chaired by Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) serves as vice-chairman.

Link: DEP Supports Ban on Electronics Waste Going to Landfills

11/23/2007