Computer exchange opens at IPF

by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

epartments and individuals on campus can acquire used computers or pass along their old ones at the Intermediate Processing Facility in a new Waste Management program that began Jan. 1.

     On Fridays between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m., anyone can drop off or pick up computer components at the IPF. Waste Management will provide open access for staff, students and faculty during those times, as well as for non-University registered non-profit organizations. Non-University transactions will require a fee of $4 to drop off a monitor and $1 to pick up a monitor, printer, fax machine, CPU or scanner or to drop off a keyboard. All other drop-offs are free.

     Fees are to cover the wages of a student, who will organize the computer exchange site.
John Pepi, Solid Waste manager, said departments must remove any confidential information from a hard drive by having them wiped clean and remove inventory bar codes before turning them in to the IPF. Pepi said none of the components come with a performance guarantee, but a table and outlet will be available for testing the operability of the equipment.

     A University ID is required to sign in and out, and participants must list items they are removing or delivering from the site. In the case of individuals, rather than departments, the site will accept no more than one system (monitor, CPU, printer, fax, and scanner) per year.
Pepi said that participants will receive information about how properly to dispose of electronics equipment that is no longer useful, as well.

     The IPF is located at Tillson Farm off East Pleasant Street near the fire station.