Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Computer Recycling Program

Discarded computer equipment is the nation's fastest growing category of solid waste. The National Safety Council estimates that over 500 million personal computers will be obsolete by 2009. If recycling or re-use programs are not implemented, the majority of these obsolete machines will end up in our nation’s landfills.

The Department of Corrections’ Computer Recycling Program, originally started in 1997, is a mutually beneficial program designed to address a portion of this problem. Currently, the program operates out of two locations, Badger State Industries Distribution warehouse located in Waupun and Redgranite Correctional Institution. Computers are collected throughout the state and brought to Waupun.

Inmates employed in the program salvage, repair, and upgrade computers for sale at a nominal cost to nonprofit organizations such as schools, libraries, churches, preschools, daycares, W2 training programs, and the elderly, disabled or underprivileged individuals. The inmates clean, reformat, and match components for recycling and remanufacturing. Inmates also test electronic equipment and de-manufacture any unsalvageable equipment for commodity recycling to salvage vendors.

At the BSI warehouse, all donated equipment is received, inspected, sorted, shipped, stored, and tested. Equipment not suited for further use is de-manufactured at the BSI shop at the Redgranite Institution. Restorable equipment is processed at the warehouse where female inmates clean, repair and upgrade the equipment for reuse.

At the BSI shop at Redgranite Correctional Institution equipment is received on two levels.  One level is receiving equipment for de-manufacture from the distribution warehouse in Waupun.  There are 20+ inmates whose job it is to take the equipment apart, sort the commodities, bale them, weigh them and place them back on a truck to eventually be sold to vendors to help cover the overhead associated with the program. 

The second level is that Redgranite Correctional Institution has agreed to partner with Badger State Industries as a  receiving site of electronic waste for all local Department of Corrections facilities as they are committed to being a part of a more green tomorrow with this initiative.  Either level benefits the environment by keeping this type of waste out of our landfills and also aids inmates in obtaining employable skills to help ensure their success upon release back into society.   

For donations of more than 5 pieces, please visit our website at buybsi.com or call the Waupun warehouse at 1-920-324-9337 for instructions on how to schedule your pick up. Whether equipment is dropped off in Waupun or picked up at your location there is a $10.00 fee for the processing of each donated CRT monitor/LCD.

DROP-OFF SITES FOR SURPLUS COMPUTER EQUIPMENT

Currently the DOC Badger State Industries has only one drop-off site for the public to dispose of their surplus equipment. It is located at the BSI Waupun warehouse at 510 Industrial Ave. This drop off site has a five piece limit of computer related equipment only.

Call 1-920-324-9337 for information.

 

10/05/2009