We all have that one kitchen junk drawer that seems to have no bottom, or that coat closet that could give Narnia a run for its money. These spaces become the designated homes for items we convince ourselves are absolutely essential or might come in handy just one more time. They turn into the secret hiding places for that lone left-hand snow glove or the covert storage spot for a Christmas gift you bring out when your in-laws come to visit. It's where you stash away super glue that's likely to dry up before you even have the chance to use it again, or a key ring whose purpose remains a mystery. Despite their ever-growing collection, we stubbornly hold onto these random bits and bobs, allowing them to take up valuable space within our homes.
Similarly, educational institutions face their own set of challenges. Imagine classrooms packed with smartboards, offices overflowing with ancient laptops stashed in every nook and cranny, or even entire schools turned into storage warehouses. We're not hoarders, we're just responsible stewards of our community, right? After all, we've put in blood, sweat, and tears to acquire and set up these technological marvels through Grants, eRate, or the eternal wait for the next budget cycle. It's easy to get sentimental about these objects, but let's face it, they're just objects—devices, network equipment—that hog valuable space, both physically and metaphorically.
So, what's the prudent path for schools… Recycling! Yes, recycling is not only a responsible choice but, surprisingly, in some instances, a legal requirement. IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) has published this guide outlining what schools must recycle, delineating items unsuitable for disposal in trash cans or dumpsters if they aren't intended for e-scrap recycling. Though this guide might be somewhat dated and may not encompass all the devices currently in your district, we've compiled a few strategies to assist you in determining whether your outdated technology is suitable for recycling.
[Read in the tone of Jeff Foxworthy]
- If it has a parallel port, you might want to get rid of it.
- If it proudly displays a serial number sticker hailing back to Windows 8 or an earlier version, you might want to get rid of it.
- If the letters VCR or DVD are emblazoned on it, you might want to get rid of it.
- If you have newer equipment running in your home lab, you might want to get rid of it.
- Anything your facilities team has "discovered" resting on the school loading dock , you might want to get rid of it.
- When you lookup its value online the first results say vintage, you might want to get rid of it.
- If asked about its purchase date, and you find yourself referencing "years before Covid," you might want to get rid of it.
- If you have worked in K12 tech for more than a decade and you still have equipment from your first year, you might want to get rid of it.
- Rather than awaiting your cameo on the next episode of American Pickers or fretting about what to do with that collection of equipment on the shelf from a long-past grant that's reached its five-year expiration (don't stress about serial numbers—we've got you covered), do yourself, your community, and the environment a favor by responsibly disposing of your e-waste.
