RMDZ Business Success Story

Alameda County Computer Resource Center

The Alameda County Computer Resource Center (ACCRC), is a nonprofit corporation that recycles e-waste. Their motto says it all: "anything you can plug into a power outlet that doesn't have food put inside of it on a regular basis, we’ll take." This means they’ll recycle computers, VCRs, and televisions, but not microwaves, washing machines, or refrigerators.

ACCRC began over 10 years. It’s director, James Burgett, started pulling old computers out of dumpsters and giving them to schools. The company operates on the belief that no one should be disadvantaged by not having access to technology, and to a commitment to recycling and reuse. They attempt to fix equipment and then give it away to someone who would otherwise never be able to afford a computer. If equipment is completely dead, it will be recycled in an environmentally friendly manner.

Computers, monitors, software, hard drives, circuit boards, games, speakers, and other e-waste that can be fixed are placed with charity, not-for-profit, school, low-income, or disabled individuals. If it is not working and cannot be repaired, it is disassembled and sent to off to approved, environmentally friendly secondary recyclers.

Cathode ray tubes are smelted allowing the lead to be removed from the glass so that both can be recycled. Circuit boards are ground up so that a number of different metal recovery processes can be used to reclaim the various alloys that are in them. Nothing is shipped overseas for the purposes of recycling. However, rebuilt PCs are often donated to foreign charities.

“The RMDZ program has contributed to our success by providing us with market leads and by helping us with financing information for our recent expansion,” said James Burgett, Director. Burgett has a good reason to be proud of ACCRC . Of the 1440 tons of computers that were donated last year, 100 percent were reused or recycled.

Southern Alameda County RMDZ | Other RMDZ Business Profiles

Last updated: November 01, 2007