Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
An estimated 41.1 million computers are disposed of each year in the United States alone.
With professional refurbishing, many of these can still click their way to operating successfully. AIM Ecycling of Toledo, has partnered with GenoaBank to offer a solution to keep laptops out of landfills and get them into the hands of students in need of an affordable computer for school.
Through the end of May, laptops can be dropped off at GenoaBank branches in Rossford (9920 Old US 20), Maumee (703 Conant St.) and Sylvania (5501 Monroe St.) during bank lobby hours.
All data will be securely destroyed and each machine will be either 100% recycled or professionally refurbished and sold this fall to students.
“AIM Ecycling is R2 Certified, which means we are controlled by very rigid requirements to be sure that all data is securely removed and destroyed, and all elements of the items are 100% recycled with zero landfill waste,” said Jeff Norden of AIM. “So many laptops are discarded for newer models when they still have a ton of life in them. We want to keep them out of landfills and help get them to students who need an affordable computer option.”
“Our hope is to have a huge selection of perfectly functioning laptops collected and refurbished to sell in early August in a $125-$225 price range” Norden said. “Drop them off and help us recycle them forward to students heading off to college or local kids in need.”
The EPA has estimated that only 38% of the 3 million tons of e-waste in the United States is recycled annually. These electronics, including laptops, contain harmful materials such as cadmium, lead and beryllium. Such materials can only be seen as trace elements but when they add up in volume they can pose a significant threat to the environment.
