Other refurbishers and recyclers
Other organizations in the Chicagoland area that refurbish and/or recycle computers.
Collection points
Goose Island
The Goose Island facility accepts many different things for recycling, from household chemicals to batteries to computers. Some (all?) of their computers are handled directly by PC Rebuilders & Recyclers (see below).
Its official name is HCCRF (Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility).
Best Buy
People don’t really know much about Best Buy’s system. In-store donations. Don’t accept hard drives. CRTs and laptops take a $10 donation but give you a $10 giftcard. Nobody knows where it actually goes. Best Buy has some information online, including their recycling partners, including one in Michigan that only recycles cell phones.
Staples
Staples stores collect computers and forward them on to eco International, which has processing centers in NY, TX, CA, and Mexico.
Costco
Costco stores collect computers and forward them on to Gazelle, a refurbisher/recycler.
Goodwill
Goodwill collects computers and forwards them to Dell via their " Reconnect" program.
During some staff meetings, it's been discussed that perhaps since the Reconnect is a national program, that local Goodwill stores might have some autonomy and may be able to choose to send hardware our way instead. TODO: we need to explore this.
Office Depot
Office Depot collects computers and other electronics at its stores and forwards them to Intechra.
Refurbishers
Organizations that focus on refurbishing as many computers as possible, since reuse has a lower environmental impact than recycling.
GiveAComputer.org
GAC is a 501(c)(3). They advertised on NPR on 2009-08-14. They've partnered with a number of Chicagoland retail stores that serve as collection points, including one TigerDirect store.
Chicago Surplus Computer
Run by David Auerbach. They have a 20,000sf space. They sell computers on eBay and their own website for prices that are similar to ours, though they come with XP Professional installed.
Perhaps not coincidentally, both CSC and PCRR are located at 3053 Knox Ave.
PC Rebuilders & Recyclers
- Run by Willie Cade
- The organization started out as a 501(c)(3) named Computers for Schools which launched in 1997, but they've since renamed to PCRR, and (apparently?) are no longer a 501(c)(3)?
- They handle some (all?) of the computers from the Goose Island facility.
- PCRR adheres to the EPA's "Responsible Recycling" (R2) program (though BAN criticizes it for a number of reasons)
- PCRR refurbishes an estimated 5000 computers per year. Refurbished desktops are sold for $150, and laptops are $350. They include a 3 year warranty and a valid Windows license.
- PCRR does recycle some things directly themselves. For instance, they export CRTs out of the country (search for "3053 N. Knox").
People's Resource Center
The People's Resource Center or PRC is located in Wheaton, IL. They refurbish over 1,000 computers each year and distribute them to low income residents of Dupage county and various non-profit agencies.
They are an authorized Microsoft refurbisher (MAR) and install fresh copies of Windows XP onto all machines they refurbish.
201 South Naperville Road, Wheaton, IL 60187-5417. (630) 682-5402
Vista Learning
Refurbishes ~40 computers per year for school children.
Nextend
Has a 100,000sf space.
Thresholds / TRI Industries / Lincoln Laser
A non-profit that remanufactures ink cartridges only (both inkjet and laser cartridges). They're an offshoot of Thresholds Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centers, and exist partly as a job-creation program.
They have a large contract with the City of Chicago to provide them with remanufactured ink cartridges.
Recyclers
Main page: eSteward Recyclers in our area
Organizations that focus on recovering base materials from circuit boards and cases.
SSI
Supply-Chain Services, Inc is the recycler that FreeGeek Chicago uses. SSI is a BAN-recommended Illinois-based recycler.
SiPi Metals
SiPi is another Illinois-based recycling company that is recommended by BAN.
RConcepts
Have a 100,000sf space.
Sims Recycling Solutions
Intercon Solutions
Vintage Tech Recylers
Vintage Tech Recyclers handles all kinds of electronics including computers and computer components (monitors, printers, etc). They are a for-profit company located in Plainfield, IL. Their website says they reuse if possible rather than recycling (although it does not give details on what reuse means).
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