Reuse@mit.edu

Reuse@mit.edu is an email list that has been set up for the express purpose of reusing unwanted goods. People email the list about any item they are no longer in need of and ask if anyone else would be in need of that item. Then if someone wants the item, they write back to that person and coordinate a time and place to pick the item up. People can also reuse their computers in this manner by writing to the reuse list and giving them away to people who could use them when they upgrade to a new machine. Also, this would save people money because they wouldn't have to pay the fee to the disposal company to pick up their computers, since Massachusetts State Law now requires calling a disposal company to dispose of computers.

Computer Disposal

Currently there is not much recycling of computers occurring at MIT. When computers are no longer of use, they are basically just disposed of by the MIT Property Office. A disposal company picks up old Athena workstations and monitors. Occasionally, departments will reassign computers within the department or to other departments in need when they are replaced, but the majority of machines are disposed of.

Next Section: Donations at MIT

Source:
Joanne Straggas
Senior Project Manager
Information Systems
joanne@mit.edu