Lansing E-Waste Recycling Event A Success

LANSING -- The Michigan Technology Network this week thanked the citizens of the Lansing area for an "overwhelming response" to its e-waste recycling event held Jan. 27.

With the public's help, the network helped six local organizations and collected 11,000 pounds of technology waste that would have ended up in landfills.

For the most part, discarded electronics -- full of dangerous heavy metals and other toxic chemicals -- should never be simply landfilled.

More than 20 volunteers stepped up to help with the event held at St. Stephen's Community Church on Kimberly Drive in Lansing. The collection room was overflowing with non-working computers, televisions, monitors, and other electronics. Throughout the event, a team of hard-working IT volunteers took the best of the donated computer systems, deleted all personal data, and built complete usable systems for local charities.

A total of 27 working cell phones were donated to two women's shelters, EVE and MSU Safe Place.

The Greer Community Learning Center has two new laptops that will be great for the senior classes as those individuals now have a mobile advantage to learn computing.

Computers for Kids received two computers that will help children who have no access to technology to learn. These will be loaded with educational software and also used for their school needs.

Students from Davenport University received several complete computer systems, networking equipment, and a hard drive to help build a resource room for church patrons at Ebenezer Church.

Career Quest Learning Systems found a home for about 10 computers that were not fast enough to run the latest and greatest, but they do work great in a Linux learning environment. Plus, extra units will help those in financial need have a way to learn more about computers at home.

The E-Waste Recycling Event was supported by Power On, Retro DC Designs, and Grand River Connection.

Please visit http://lansing.mitn.org/ewaste2012 for additional details and photos from the event.

The Lansing Chapter of the Michigan Technology Network is part of a statewide organization driven to enhance the development of technology professionals through education and networking events with a focus on community involvement.