Broad environmental efforts await Maine lawmakers
Maine Sunday Telegram
February 2, 2003

Computer Recycling in Maine

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition

Article on the Maine's Universal Waste Law & Recycler Crow International

Stockton Springs Historical Society

Ruth's Reusable Resources

Nonprofit solves environmental problem with computer recycling program

Maine Science and Technology Foundation
February 4, 2003

STOCKTON SPRINGS, Maine – Thinking about disposing of your old computer? Think twice: with five to eight pounds of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic burdening a typical computer and monitor, Maine's hazardous waste management regulations limit your options.

But your old system might qualify for reincarnation. The Information Technology Exchange (ITE), a nonprofit organization located in Stockton Springs, Maine, has developed a program not only to recycle used computers but to promote computer literacy.

Some companies may store obsolete computers to avoid paying disposal fees, but IT founder Chris Martin refurbishes computers and places them, for low or no cost, with individuals and organizations.

But the program goes beyond refurbishing old computers and providing them to organizations and individuals who otherwise might not be able to afford one. It also helps those unfamiliar with computers become comfortable using them. New owners are trained in computer basics before taking their machines home, ensuring proper usage and promoting computer literacy a byte at a time.

ITE, said Martin, is "the easiest way for me to impact my community."

Making What's Old New Again

Community service plays a role in many donations to ITE. Even southern Maine residents sometimes ship computers to ITE because they feel better donating their machines for reuse than paying disposal fees that Martin said range from $12 to $38, depending on location.

Martin and his volunteers give every computer a clean slate by overwriting and reformatting each hard drive to eliminate residual files and data. ITE replaces malfunctioning components as well as elements that fail to meet minimum performance standards.

Each computer is sold with a monitor and bundled software that includes Windows 98, a Web browser, and enough applications for users to correspond with e-mail, write letters and resume, and track budgets. Martin has also amassed a library of applications no longer covered by copyrights.

Teaching Computer Literacy

Each recipient of a new used ITE computer attends a six-hour Introduction to Computers program before bringing a system home. Martin said ITE designed the course to acquaint new users with computers, build confidence, and dispel the mystery of the machines so operators won't worry about causing technology-based disasters.

Course topics include computer capabilities, basic use of software, accessing and searching the Internet, and using e-mail. Students also open their machines, to inspect the guts. ITE plans to provide continuing support for computer recipients, and Martin said the organization is developing clinics to teach small business owners about desktop publishing, bookkeeping, and e-commerce skills.

ITE has established a sliding fee scale for Introduction to Computers; the maximum charge is $185 for the course and a refurbished computer. In keeping with its mission of bringing computers to individuals and organizations who could not otherwise afford them, ITE offers sponsorships of 25, 50, or 100 percent of program costs.

ITE chooses computer recipients based on the potential impact for each machine. Although ITE's operational board of directors reviews separately requests from individuals and organizations, each applicant's need is evaluated based on the number of people likely to benefit from the computer.

Only individuals and families can apply for sponsorships, but institutional computer recipients may include public schools or libraries, nonprofit educational organizations, or nonprofit job development centers, according to Martin.

Under a joint project with the Stockton Springs Historical Society, ITE is already working with the Stockton Springs Community Library to build a community center with a computer lab and seating for training sessions. Computers will also be available to library patrons.

Can Computer Literacy Help With Economic Development?

Changing lives through computer literacy is one reason Martin is eager to provide curriculum and equipment for other area programs.

"We want to become a mechanism or supply channel to computer literacy programs or educators who wish to start computer literacy programs but don't have the resources," he said.

Martin hopes ITE computers and training, along with subsequent experience using the machines at home, will make recipients more appealing job candidates for local companies such as credit card issuer MBNA. Although Martin moved out of Maine for several years to find work, he hopes recent high school and college graduates won't follow his example.

Results from the Maine Development Foundation's 2000 and 2001 Surveys of Maine Citizens and Businesses show that computer skills probably do play a role in the job market. In 2001, 85 percent of Maine companies questioned claimed that they use the Internet. But the 2000 poll showed that 68 percent of business survey respondents either "frequently" or "sometimes" find it necessary to train entry-level employees in basic computer skills.

Martin and ITE hope to do their part in raising qualifications by increasing Waldo County citizens' access to computers by about 15 percent from November 2002 to November 2003 by distributing five computers a week. Although Martin began ITE programs in Waldo County, he said he is open to working with clients around the state, though shipment could cause complications.

ITE Background & Goals

The idea for ITE first came in summer 2000 when a neighbor approached Martin asking about computer prices. With costs higher than expected, Martin found and refurbished a 1991 computer for the family. The family recently upgraded to a new computer, returning their old machine to Martin for another refurbishment.

Martin said he didn't act on the thought of founding an organization until he learned about Maine's regulations for disposing of old computers. The Universal Waste Law went into effect in January 2001 and prohibits schools and businesses from throwing away old computers and other electronic devices. ITE became a nonprofit organization in April 2002, under the sponsorship of the Stockton Springs Historical Society, but has been operating independently since October 1, 2002.

Martin said ITE's board includes six directors, and the organization works with three volunteers, including a "mechanically inclined" neighbor of Martin's who helped catalogue the status of components in incoming computers and served as the second beta student for Introduction to Computers.

As a volunteer-based organization, ITE's core budget for the next year totals just under $59,000, estimated Martin, and covers expenses including sponsorships, staff salary, and purchase of accessories – modems, keyboards, and mice – that complete donated computers.

Fundraising is never easy for a new nonprofit organization, and Martin said he has begun a public awareness campaign to publicize ITE's program benefits. He also plans to apply for grants and solicit cash and computer donations.

Money has already caused road blocks, according to Martin, because many donated computers contain slow modems, necessitating purchase of more powerful equipment. But "none of this works without people participating or donating," said Martin, and even unplaceable equipment can play a role because ITE may be able to sell it. Anything else ends up with recycler Crow International.

Martin's Background

Though Martin pours many hours each week into ITE, he hasn't quit his day job, where he often works on museum signs as a freelance graphics production consultant. Martin said his first computer-related job involved training body shops in using programs that sent digital photographs over modems to facilitate e-estimates.

Martin grew up in Kennebunk, where he also first used a computer, a model that ran programs on punch cards. He later owned a Commodore home computer that used a television set as a monitor. Martin attended the University of Southern Maine for two and a half years, then worked in New Hampshire until he and his family moved to Stockton Springs several years ago to upgrade to a quieter lifestyle.

Although Martin hopes ITE will grow enough that someday he can become a paid executive director, for now his consulting pays the bills. "We're just easily contented, I guess."

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