Above, student worker Rob McNeil replaces the hard drive on a Dell computer with a clean and wiped drive and will prep the computer for redistribution.
Administrative Technologies’ eRecycling program saved 3,421.73 pounds of technology equipment from hitting the landfills in July alone.
This equipment included laptops, desktops, and monitors, and resulted in University savings of $223,829.
“We take University equipment that has been turned into property control and refurbish it, then make it available to the campus as a whole at no cost to the units,” said Bart Lytel, eRecycling supervisor.
Lytel, with his team of students, has taken this valuable service to a new level. Each piece of equipment incurs a series of diagnostic tests in order to deliver a dependable machine. This process is also designed to ensure that University data is protected.
“We clean them, wipe the drives, test them, ensure that they are functional, and offer them at no charge to the departments on campus, or elsewhere in the state,” Lytel said.
Departments that are currently utilizing several generations of old machines are able to upgrade their existing equipment from the eRecycling inventory instead of spending University dollars to purchase new equipment. This service fills that void by providing options to departments that could not otherwise afford to replace their existing office equipment or labs. In addition, by continuing to use recycled equipment, the amount of waste going into the landfills is reduced.
The Office of Sustainability also supports the program as a significant way to address Governor Pat Quinn’s Executive Order Number 11, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of government operations, said Melissa Nergard, assistant director in the Office of Sustainability. Since these systems are also made available to other state entities, the impact of this program has a broad reach and a tangible impact on the finances and services provided by other state institutions.
“Sustainability is about systems integrations and efficiencies,” Nergard said. “The eRecycling unit is a perfect example of how one institution can make a statewide impact on budgets, the environment, education, and the multitude of social services that are provided by state funded programs.”
If you are interested in the service, equipment requests can be submitted to erecycling@exchange.ilstu.edu.
In addition, twice each month an updated inventory will be sent to the eRecycling listserv. To sign up for the listserv:
— Visit http://listserv.ilstu.edu/
— Click “Listserv Request”
— The Listserv Request form allows customization to fit appropriate needs
