deskthority

Many members here have asked me how to find recyclers and other places to look. If you are in the US, it is not too difficult. Start with a google map of your area, say Memphis TN. Then select nearby places, and type electronics recycling. If you are on a tablet or phone, you can use the app. If nearby places is not available as a choice, in the search box, after the town and state, type nearby electronics recycling and you will get the same results. Use different phrases, such as computer recycling, used computers, ewaste, recycler, etc. Use your imagination, and happy hunting!

This is another resource: https://sustainableelectronics.org/recyclers

As someone who hasn't sourced from recyclers before, do they typically have like... an open warehouse or something for people to pick and buy from? Or do people grab things from a drop-off area? Or do you generally have to contact the recycler and negotiate these sorts of things, and if so, is it usually something where you have to buy by the pallet-load?
(I assume that the short answer is "It varies", but I'm curious about your experiences.)

Any recycler that subscribes to R2 or e-steward policies will have rules, and you have to politely state your case and ask to see the goods. No, you don't have to buy by the pallet. I do so simply because I find so many goodies and things I like If they will not let you onto the warehouse floor to scrounge, then you are welcome to use the pictures I put together online as examples, and ask them to hold keyboards for you. Almost all of them need to make more money. Be prepared to offer about $5 each if they are doing the sorting for you. If you scrounge, then about $1-5, depending on qty and quality, is usually sufficient. Point out that you are offering free labor, and be prepared to sign a waiver form that you won't sue them if you get hurt while on the premises. If they are agreeable, ask if you can come by on a monthly basis, or maybe they can call you next time they sort keyboards. Warehouses are typically EXTREMELY dirty. If you are allergic to dirt and dust, take Benadryl before you begin. Bring your own gloves, wear steel toes, and be prepared to wear a safety vest and hard hat if they require it.

This is an interesting thing. I live in Ontario Canada, and apparently here the provincial legislature has thought fit to prevent recyclers from selling their receipts to customers.

y11971alex wrote: This is an interesting thing. I live in Ontario Canada, and apparently here the provincial legislature has thought fit to prevent recyclers from selling their receipts to customers.

This is the case in some areas due to unethical people who would buy certain ewaste, salvage and sell the valuable scrap metals without proper precautions (or salvage certain materials for other illegal activities), and then illegally dump the often highly dangerous leftovers. Remember that many items you're going to see at a recycler are not keyboards, and are there because they are extremely toxic if handled or disposed of improperly.

That's why most reputable recyclers will insist on knowing your exact purpose for the items you want to buy. They can get in serious trouble with the EPA if stuff from their warehouse is found illegally dumped - as can you. Always emphasize that the keyboards will be kept intact, and if that is not possible, properly disposed of. Keyboards have a much lower amount of hazmat content as opposed to, say, a Cray XMP logic board. Which has only four pieces which are NOT chock full of lead that would love to and is actively trying to seep into somebody's groundwater. And yes, this is also why you will have a very hard time purchasing complete terminals.

Edit: I should probably add that if you're concerned about exposure to potentially toxic materials including such fun things as lead, chromium, phosphors, mercury, and arsenic (NOT JOKING) to name a few, you should also bring a personal respirator. A cheap face mask or surgical mask will NOT cut it. You'll want one rated at N95, N100, or P100. If you plan to salvage regularly, I recommend one with replaceable filter cartridges. Recyclers will always do their best to minimize the contaminants in the air, but obviously there is a limit to what they can do there.

Really, I have no intention of sifting through the dumpster's inbox for keyboards, but I have recently written to my member of provincial parliament (who happens to be a minister) about this issue. Perhaps he can intervene on my behalf, this not being completely unreasonable for someone of his stature to do. If the recyclers continue to rebuff me, then I think I'll wave the minister's letter in their face.

If you are in France, you might try here http://forum.wda-fr.org/index.php. Some of the posts are old, but a few are more recent. Someone posted in 2013 for an unsaver, and apparently found one (google translate can be somewhat lacking).