[freegeek-startup] question on recyclers - first roadblock

[matteo]

On Tue, Aug 22, 2006 at 11:11:18AM -0700, Shawn Campbell said:
> Have any of the other FG's dealt with a contractor / "recycler" known as 5r processors Ltd.? They have two of them here in TN and that was one of the contractors that we were planning to work with and still may. 
> 
> Here is part of the problem...
> 
> When I was talking to one of the purchasing agents about what we are trying to do and why, we were on the same common ground. Then she said it sounds like we might be a competitor, and I explained to her that not only were we trying to keep ewaste out of the landfills, but to also reuse the technology. She was fine with that, and then went on to say that she serves on the TN board of solid waste, and that they were going to put 5 containers in our county for ewaste once some new laws go into effect next year. 
> I said great, but what are you going to do with all that equipment? 
> 
> She said that they are an end of life processor and their goal is to keep it out of the landfill. I asked, what about the still good functioning equipment though?

Its true that alot of the equipment is probabley still functioning. It's
also true that what is practical for reuse is a moving target. We (here
in portland) are often upping the specks on what we give away to
volunteers based on the amount of systems that we are recieving. 

> They really did seem to care about that, just as long as they were keeping the environment clean and get paid.

My Question are they breaking down the materials or do they send there
products to places like china. (there websight may say this but im not
sure.) 

> I guess some people just don't get it...

I beleave that even thow we do all this great recycling work, the most
inportant thing we do is get people comfortable with computers. 

> I hope that we can still find a way to do business with them as they will buy our plastics, wire, processors, circuit boards, etc. and hopefully still leave us an avenue to even run a business. I mean there is enough room for us both, now it is just time to hunker down and show the public why they need to recycle their equipment with us.
> 
> (end venting) and the update...

It's great to be getting all the questions, and updates.

Matteo