CalMAX Helps Place Excess Office Equipment

by Jill Larner

Last year two San Francisco offices, the Typographical Union and the Newspaper Guild, merged to form the Northern California Media Workers #39521. The new organization needed less office furniture and accessories such as desks, filing cabinets, etc. The logistics of downsizing the office fell to Jeanie Schulz, the Typographical Sector Secretary. 

Jeanie knew the office equipment had little or no value, but she wanted the equipment to be reused locally. After researching recycling options with the City of San Francisco's recycling program, Magik Inc., a local nonprofit reuse organization directed her to CalMAX. In March she advertised her items in CalMAX at no cost to the organization.

The listings—used counter tops with drawers, filing cabinets, and a safe—prompted a number of inquiring e-mails. Vickie, of D2M, Inc., an engineering services company in Mountain View, discovered CalMAX through a local business flyer. She searched CalMAX online and found the ad for the filing cabinets, but logistics were a problem. Jeanie knew Vickie really wanted them, so she delivered the filing cabinets herself to D2M while on a trip in that area. Vickie was more than pleased, and she now reads the CalMAX catalog regularly.

Another CalMAX user, Laura Adkins, saw an ad in the catalog for used countertops. When she discovered the counters included wonderful wooden drawers, she thought of a nonprofit arts and skills school in Emeryville. Laura made the connection and the school received the used counters with drawers.

Although Jeanie used CalMAX for a specific need, she is now familiar with the program and with the recycling services offered through the City of San Francisco. When asked if she'd use the CalMAX program again, Jeanie gave a smart, reuse-savvy reply, "Of course, but next time I'll say that only schools and nonprofits can take the items. This way, I'll know that the items are being used by the most needy, and won't be resold at market value. That was a concern of mine." 

See www.sfrecycles.org for more information on business recycling services in the City of San Francisco. Maintained by the City of San Francisco's Recycling Program, this site includes reuse and recycling information and directories for citizens, students, and businesses.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008