Turning computer waste into profit
E-recycling becoming a big business
Published : Wednesday, 11 Nov 2009
Kate Weidaw
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Consumers who return a computer or printer to the store
because it doesn’t work may not realize that product is later purchased by
an Austin company.
That company is keeping millions of pounds of electronics from winding up in
the landfill.
“If for any reason you bring it back to the person you bought it from,
eventually they will end up here,” said Alex Abadi, CEO of Image
Microsystems.
Image Microsystems in North Austin is what you call an e-recycler. They take
electronics that have been returned to a store and try to either refurbish
it for resale.
Or, if that doesn’t work, it winds up being taken apart piece by piece and
ground up into what looks like dough. With a little heat and a mold, that
printer becomes a stepping stone made from 100 percent recycled plastic.
“We have kept about 60 million pounds of e-waste from landfills or overseas
dumping,” said Alex.
While the company is making a big impact on the environment, they felt that
wasn’t enough. Some four years ago they started to hire graduates from the
Texas School for the Deaf.
“It became more than a mission for us but a purpose for us to help out in
our community,” said Toni Abadi, director of Diversity and Community
Relations.
Today, 40 percent of their employees are deaf, such as Dennis Strickrod who
works in the accounting department.
“It’s kind of like a deaf world here compared to other companies,” said
Stickrod. “They tend to have just one deaf worker, and there’s many hearing
people. And you feel very isolated, but here it’s very different.”
And some might think on an assembly line it would be difficult for the
hearing employees to communicate with the deaf ones, but it works out.
“I see they are starting to finger spell, and they are gesturing with each
other,” said Toni. “And they figure it out, but it’s not difficult for them.
They enjoy it.”
And they enjoy working for a company that’s doing something good for the
environment.
Last year, Image Microsystems received the Texas Environmental Award for
their recycling efforts.
Source:
http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/strange/turning_computer_waste_into_profit1257959394825