Page 29 - Campus Technology, March/April 2018

2017 CT IMPACT AWARDS IN DEPTH
1,449 computers redeployed on-campus;
More than $1 million saved ($1,309,056) vs. purchasing
new computers;
More than 200 community members provided with
hands-on technology training; and
1,368 computers donated to area schools.
That is not to mention the computers kept out of the waste stream. Each year millions of tons of electronic waste are improperly disposed of in landfills, allowing toxins to enter
“You can get extended life out of PCs and still have happy faculty and staff using computers better than the ones they had.”
— Michael Bachman, Towson University
the soil and water supplies. According to the Green Electronics Council, a nonprofit in Portland, OR, focused on green computing, only 30 to 40 percent of e-waste actually gets recycled. Towson’s “Sustainable Materials Management” approach to e-waste aligns with the EPA’s National Strategy for Electronic Stewardship, fostering the conservation of rare earth metals and reducing environmental impacts accrued during the life of a product. Julie Leary, Towson’s associate director of client services, mentioned that the
program has diverted 20,355 pounds of e-waste to date.
An EduCycle committee devel- ops new ideas and partnerships. It would like to expand donations to additional area public schools, and possibly public libraries, while continuing the mission of meeting technology needs on campus.
The Towson executives believe
their project is replicable by
other schools of all sizes that
may be retiring computers from
the classroom before the end of
their operational lifespan. They
have developed documentation
and presented at several confer-
ences, both regional and nation-
wide, to share their story. “Once people see it, they start asking if it can work on their campus,” Bachman said. “It starts with a passion about the idea that you don’t just throw things away every three years and get a new one. You can get extended life out of PCs and still have happy faculty and staff using computers better than the ones they had.”
At a time when state funding is tight, the program is
having a financial impact. “We are maximizing our use of state dollars,” Jenkins stressed. “By not buying so many new computers, we can use that money to do something to help students instead of constantly putting it into buy- ing technology.”
Volunteers help recondition computers by cleaning them thoroughly, running a hardware diagnostic and ensuring that all necessary components are present.
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CAMPUS TECHNOLOGY | March/April 2018
David Raths is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia.