short-n-sweet summary

• names
  • Willie Cade
  • PC Rebuilders & Recyclers (PCRR.com)
  • Computers for Schools (PCsForSchools.org)
• adheres to EPA's “Responsible Recycling” (R2) problem
  • though BAN criticizes R2 for a variety of reasons
• they do export intact used CRTs out of the country
• estimated volume of refurbished computers is 5,000 per year
• refurbished computers are sold for $150 for a desktop, $350 for a laptop, include a 3 year warranty, and include a Windows license
• TODO: do ALL of Goose Island's computers go to PCRR?

personal notes

• PC Rebuilders & Recyclers (pcrr.com) is listed on Illinois' list of registered collectors/refurbishers — FreeGeek Chicago should be on there too?
  • uses ex-cons, and rebuilds computers
  • leader teachers a class on e-waste at University of Illinois
  • adheres to the EPA's Responsible Recycling (R2) standards (note, however, that BAN criticizes the R2 program)
    His comments in front of congress on R2 (Feb 2009):

    There are some people who would suggest that they [EPA R2] are not high enough standards. I suggest that what we need to do is implement swiftly those responsible recycling standards, or the R2 standards, and then continue the research to see what is next in those steps. What has been presented and what is now public documentation is really, really quite good, and I believe the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries is going to be the first body to have certification available for electronics recyclers, and quite frankly, we are excited about doing that. Hopefully that will come about by the end of the year.

  • the EPA confirms they export CRTs
  • PCRR is partnered with the city's Goose Island Facility
  • volume estimate: approximately 5,000 computers refurbished per year
    • to date
      • [11 Feb 2009] 40,000 computers refurbished
      • the company started in 2000, so that's an average of 4000 computers refurbished per year — though more recent years are certainly higher than that
      • [3 Dec 2007] 35,000 computers refurbished
      • [Fall 2003] 15,000 computers refurbished
      • [18 Jul 2002] 10,000 computers (refurbished?)
    • [12 Feb 2004] 10,000 computers refurbished in the last year
  • computers are $150, come with a 3-year warranty,
    • laptops are $350
    • see also here
  • their refurbishing facility is 13,000 sq ft
  • they donated $1000 to basel.int
• Computers for Schools (PCsForSchools.org)
  • PCsForSchools was originally a non-profit, but appears to have been merged into the larger PCRR.com (for profit?).
  • founded in 1997
• eWasteCalendar.com, a site he set up to charge people $50 a pop
• Goose Island facility