I’ve been out of the office most of the week, attending the annual CLAC conference (Consortium of Liberal Arts Colleges) at Reed College in Portland Oregon. It’s been a great meeting so far, but today I missed out on a big spring cleaning project in the IT Services department today (in 90 degree weather, no less!).

Over the last several years we’ve accumulated more than 400 pieces of broken and obsolete technology items, as we searching for a cost-effective, responsible recycling partner that would properly dispose of the equipment. Thanks to a tip from colleagues Denise Crum and Tom Steffes at Earlham College last fall, we recently selected Indianapolis-based RecycleForce, LLC for this important work.

RecycleForce is a not-for-profit a computer de-manufacturer / recycler located on the eastside of Indianapolis. Their mission is to prevent discarded computer equipment, which contains many toxic substances, from entering Indiana landfills. As a division of WorkForce, Inc., they provide another important service in helping to strengthen Indiana families by providing back-to-work programs for parents.

Workers from RecycleForce, as well as our own student workers in IT Services, took on the daunting task of moving all of the old equipment from the Baxter Attic down to the basement, out the back door and up the steps, where it was loaded onto a truck for the trip to Indy. Rod Helderman, who oversaw the project for Wabash, tells me that everyone did a great job and got everything finished today.

We realize that many people in the Wabash community may have broken or obsolete equipment at their own home that they would like to recycle. To address this need, we are hoping to sponsor a community-wide recycle drive in the fall, with the assistance of Wabash’s recently-formed Environmental Concerns Committee. Watch the Tech Notes blog in the coming months for more news on this effort. Until then, be sure to take advantage of our TechnoTrash recycling program for smaller items.