Personal Computer Recycling Program FAQ
TIME TO RECYCLE! You might not know it, but computer components contain toxic or hazardous elements (i.e. lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and more) that can leak into the ground if not disposed of properly.
The Help Desk is still processing electronics recycling by appointment. Appointments can be made through phone or email. This policy also applies for pickups and drop offs for laptop rentals.
Recycle your computer and electronics for free!
Bring your old computer components to the DoIT Help Desk located in the Computer Science building (1210 W Dayton Street) to have it recycled properly and securely. DoIT will accept computer components from any manufacturer, except products contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with chemicals, biological agents, or other substances not integral to the original new equipment or otherwise associated with normal office or household environments.
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DoIT will accept:
DoIT can not accept:
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Frequently Asked Questions
DoIT is partnering with Universal Recycling Technologies (URT) of Janesville, to provide an environmentally-friendly, on-campus alternative to putting those old computer parts in the trash.
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Is it secure? Universal Recycling Technology's comprehensive data destruction system is guaranteed to comply with federal laws and regulations, including the Federal Privacy Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) and state legislation. Going above and beyond to protect customers' sensitive data, URT meets:
- US Department of Defense and National Security Agency requirements for purging classified information on magnetic disk and tape media.
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requirements for device and media control policies that govern the receipt and removal of hardware and electronic media (including disposal, media, reuse and accountability).
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Should I delete sensitive information from my computer? Absolutely! If there's any concern about having the information on your computer fall into malicious hands, we recommend deleting information from your computer prior to recycling it. Remember to delete sensitive information, back-up necessary files, and remove all transportable media prior to delivery. Once a computer is delivered for recycling, DoIT cannot return it to the owner. Participation in this program constitutes a relinquishment of all rights to the hardware and other computer materials delivered to DoIT. Please see Media Disposal (Windows) - Securely erasing a hard drive and Media Disposal (Mac) - Securely erasing a hard drive in Mac OS X for more information about securely erasing hard drives.
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Eligibility and qualifications: DoIT will accept computers, monitors, CD drives, hard drives, printers, and computer components from any manufacturer, except products contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with chemicals, biological agents, or other substances not integral to the original new equipment or otherwise associated with normal office or household environments. DoIT will not accept hazardous waste or batteries that are not an integral part of the system being recycled, UPS systems, CRTs that have been removed from their cases, or CRTs that are cracked or broken. (For information on how to recycle batteries, please see Battery Recycling on Campus.)
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Are your methods in compliance with health and safety laws? All the e-waste sent to Universal Recycling Technologies (URT) is processed here in North America and nothing is shipped overseas for disposal. URT meets the requirements of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. In addition to annual compliance audits of their recycling vendors, URT reviews the performance of their downstream vendors. Recyclers must comply with all applicable health and safety laws. URT does not allow the use of prison labor at any stage of the recycling process nor the disposal of hazardous electronic waste in solid-waste landfills or incinerators, including waste-to-energy incinerators. URT has signed the Electronic Recycling Pledge of True Stewardship. See http://www.ban.org/pledge/electronics_recycler_pledge.pdf for more information.
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Parking: There are parking spaces available on North Charter Street. These spots are just across the train tracks from DoIT. They are 20 minutes parking spaces. See maps.wisc.edu for more information.
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Hours: Individuals may bring their items for recycling to the DoIT Help Desk during regular Walk-In hours. Smaller items (no printers or desktop computers, please) can be dropped off at our Health Sciences and East Campus Mall locations.
E-Cycle Wisconsin
The law establishes requirements for manufacturers, recyclers and collectors to ensure that recycling occurs in an environmentally sound manner. There are also requirements for electronics retailers, including the DoIT Tech Store. For more information about e-Cycle Wisconsin, see http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Ecycle/Wisconsin.html.