When you see pictures of poor third-world people picking over mountains of scrapped computers and displays, you can be sure that there are no Macalester computers in those piles. It’s a point of pride for David Sisk, associate director for Information Technology Services. ITS regularly works with materials recycler High Point Environmental to separate and recycle e-waste, but this May when students moved out of the dorms, they took it a step further.

“All students had to do was get their junked computers, displays, etc., over to a truck in a Mac parking lot, and RAs and volunteers helped with that. Items that still worked were transferred to another group of student volunteers for cleaning and donation to Habitat for Humanity,” says Sisk. “Also, I collaborated with our custodial staff, who found some junk in residence halls and dumpsters, and brought it to the High Point truck as well.”

A total of 3,942 pounds of non-functional equipment—nearly two tons—was responsibly recycled for a total cost of $394.20, which Sisk called “cheap at the price and well worth the money.”

And it wasn’t just electronics that went on to a second life. Macalester Habitat for Humanity has for several years held a rummage sale as their annual fundraiser. They collect and store unwanted goods at move-out, then host a rummage sale when students return in the fall. This year the collaborative effort raised the recycling rate of all unwanted goods at move-out from 17% in 2008 to an astonishing 46% in 2009.

“We had a great deal of support from the Sustainability Office, Residential Life, and Facilities, who helped us to secure more storage space, to house additional volunteers after dorms had closed in the spring, and to access facilities equipment, such as a truck for moving boxes or tables and fencing for the sale,” says Habitat volunteer Margaret Scott ’10 (Brookline, Massachusetts). “In addition, we had help from the first-year class of the Bonner Community Scholars Program, who volunteered all day at the sale and will share in the funds raised.” The sale raised about $5000 for the two organizations.

As a result of their highly successful effort, 14 members of the Macalester community, shared in the Green Star Award, Macalester’s award for sustainable practices.

 

(Do you have a story to tell? Let communications and public relations know»)