INTRODUCTION

From time to time UO departments are faced with the prospect of discarding State-owned computer and electronic equipment.  The University seeks to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship by diverting these potential “e-waste” items away from landfills and into useful and beneficial channels.  That is the purpose of the Computer Harvest.

The first step in using the Computer Harvest is to tally equipment according to use and reuse categories.  Each category is treated slightly differently and your knowledge of the condition and utility of the equipment is essential for proper handling.

WORKING EQUIPMENT: REUSE ON CAMPUS

Since working equipment is equipment that is of possible use by other individuals on campus, departments are directed to advertise the availability of working items to others on campus.  To obtain some email lists for this purpose please contact Sheree Johnson, Business Affairs Office, at 346-3190 or by email at shereej@uoregon.edu.  Sheree may ask you if any equipment is inventoried with a property number; if there is an inventory number she can help reconcile future transfer of the equipment.

WORKING EQUIPMENT: STATE SURPLUS PROPERTY AUCTION

After working equipment has been advertised but not transferred to others the property goes to State Surplus Property.  You can arrange for pickup by contacting Sheree Johnson.  Sheree will ask for a count of equipment by type (e.g. 4 monitors, 2 printers, 3 processors).  She will ask you to prepare a Property Disposition Request and she will then contract Facilities Services Moving Services to schedule equipment pickup at your location for consignment to Salem or another state property outlet.

Remember to clean hard drives before offering equipment to Surplus Property.  The Computer Harvest cannot be responsible for any files or licensed software left on processor drives.   

NON-WORKING EQUIPMENT AND OBSOLETE EQUIPMENT

Non-working equipment and obsolete equipment have no reuse value and are not worth the cost of repairing or upgrading.  Departments must make this determination.  The Computer Harvest has guidelines to help departments when there is a question about obsolete equipment.  If you think equipment is in this category but have questions contact Sheree Johnson, Business Affairs, at 346-3190 or by email at shereej@uoregon.edu.

Discarded non-working and obsolete equipment must be recorded on an Institutional Property Disposition Request (IPDR).  Contact Sheree Johnson for the proper form. Once the department has completed the IPDR, the form goes back to Sheree Johnson.  Sheree will contact Facilities Services Moving Services to pick up the discarded non-working and obsolete equipment.

Non-working and obsolete equipment will be de-manufactured, thereby diverting these discards away from landfill and into glass-to-glass recycling of cathode ray tubes, recycling of circuit boards, recovery of metals and wire, toner cartridges, and recycling of plastics.

PROGRAM COSTS AND BENEFITS

The Computer Harvest is a FREE service to University departments discarding state-owned property.

As of May, 2005, over 5,400 computers and other e-items have been gathered for Surplus Property.  On the de-manufacturing side, over 16 tons of glass, 12 tons of metals, 4 tons of circuit boards, and 3 tons of plastic have been recycled.

Thanks to all who have participated in the past, and those who will in the future.

PERSONAL COMPUTERS (NON-UO PROPERTY):

Personal computers, that are non-UO property, can be taken to the following address to be recycled.  There may be a nominal fee for disposal.

    NextStep Recycling
    2101 W. 10th Ave.
    Eugene, OR 97402
    686-2366

    Website: NextStep Recyling
    Email:     NextStep Recycling

Contact:
Brian Kimball
Support Services Supervisor
Phone: (541) 346-2322
E-Mail: bkk@uoregon.edu

Any Questions Contact:
Jeremy Chambers
Environmental Specialist
Phone: (541) 346-2865
E-Mail: jchamber@uoregon.edu