Hardware Donations Basics
When someone wants to donate a computer or related item to Free Geek, they do so in Receiving. This area is run by volunteers and overseen by staff. There is a Receiving calendar now available for pre-notification of Receiving staff and volunteers.
Items we do not accept
There are certain items that people might try to donate that we do not accept. You can suggest that people contact Metro Recycling Information Center at (503) 234-3000 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday for instructions on how to properly dispose of these items.
Photocopiers | Major Appliances |
Microwaves | Smoke Detectors |
Styrofoam | Alkaline Batteries |
Items that we do accept and where to put them
- Most items can be put away in boxes in receiving. Some need to be moved elsewhere in the building. (Monitors, printers, systems, etc.)
- If there are a lot of donations coming in, concentrate big items like monitors, systems, and printers first.
- Filling out a tally sheet is important for Free Geek's database - that's how we log how many items we have collected from the community!
- There are thousands of devices that can be incorporated into a computer that are not listed here. We take all of them. Additionally, there are many types of non-computer equipment that we do take. If you don't know what they do, ask a staff member.
- If you are unsure of any item, talk to a staff member!
Item | Where It Goes |
---|---|
Systems | Evaluation 2 |
CRT Monitors | Keepers go in monitor testing in the warehouse. Recyclers without "Uncovered Electronic Devices" stickers go in the "CRT Monitors" gaylord located outside of the monitor testing area. Recyclers with an "Uncovered Electronic Devices" sticker go in the Non-CED gaylord. If you have not been trained to stack monitors in gaylords ask a Recycling supervisor to show you or place the monitor next to the gaylord.
Monitors no longer have a charge unless a donor brings more than 7 CRT's and special circumstances apply, which will be determined by the Receiving staff person. |
LCD Monitors | Give to a staff member. |
Televisions | Must be able to be lifted by one person. Required $1 per diagonal inch fee. Go into the warehouse. |
Printers | All printers go to Printerland |
Scanners | All scanners go to Printerland |
Speakers | Put in Basic Testing |
Keyboards | Put in Basic Testing |
Mice | Put in Basic Testing |
Laptops | Give to a staff member |
Apple Hardware | Mac shelf |
Cards and Motherboards | Card and motherboard box |
Floppy Drives | Recycle in the box marked Old Drives |
CD-ROM Drives | Recycle in the box marked Old Drives |
CD-RW and DVD Drives | Advanced Testing Box |
Floppy Disks | Recycle in the box labeled Floppy Discs |
CD-ROMs | Destroy and put in CD box, unless it's a factory pressed linux disc, in which case send to store. |
VCRs and DVD Players | All DVD players go to the AV cart.
VCR's that have both their remote and stereo sound (red and white inputs) go to the AV cart, otherwise they get cut and put in CBM. |
Stereo Systems | A/V Box, except in cases of large hardware, in which case take directly to AV cart in hall. |
Telephones | Recycle in the box labeled Copper Bearing Materials |
Cell Phones | Give to staff member. |
Wall-warts | Put in box labeled Wall-Warts for further sorting |
Cords | Check the board above the cord cart to see which cords are needed in the store. Cords not needed by the store go in the cart.
All else ask a staff member. |