This organization gave 659 refurbished computers back to the community in 2018. Since 2006 they have given over 5200 refurbished computers back to the community. Many underprivileged families, individuals, schools and other non-profits have benefited from our work. A very worthwhile cause for your cash or in-kind donations. Please go to our website...ewastecollective.org
Review from Guidestar
I'm writing a story on this group, I have some unsettling questions, Why no 990's posted since 2012? Who's on the board? I've corresponded with a founder and two former board members and what I hear about the current treasurer is less than stellar, Does the current treasurer claim to be a founding member? I've read a document where he claims to be a part "from it's inception" which is patently untrue.
Also almost all the reviews before this are astroturfed by the staff and board.
No current financials, misleading statements from board members, dubious positive reviews, there are better options.
Review from Guidestar
E-waste is a growing problem. It cannot be ignored. CTRC addressed this issue by collecting e-waste and what it can upcycle it distributes to the community of those who cannot afford to buy a computer--for free! What it cannot, goes to an environmentally responsible refinery where the "obsolete electronic devices are dismantled and separated into clean, reusable commodities."
This non-profit can use your support! Visit ewastecollective.org!
Do you have a computer? You may say: "Who doesn't?". But there are people that cannot have one, and they find themselves not only disconnected in somehow from the digital world we live nowadays, but they lack one important thing: the facility to search for knowledge, to see things you may never see in your life or to connect to their family, friends etc. CTRC does an excellent job helping people to have their own computer at home. They work side-by-side with the community looking after their necessities and how they can help.
I truly support their work and would recommend to everyone to support their action with computer donations, e-waste and etc.
CTRC is a really friendly Non-profit. They are not just another e.waste recycling non-profit worried about the climate change, that they are of course. But they are also working with the community to bridge the digital divide. Giving Free Computers to people that for circumstances don't have access to a Computer as schools, non-profits and economically and/or physically disadvantaged individuals. Now a days this issue it's becoming a way of social exclusion for instance without an e.mail address you can not apply for a job. Another free program is the "Marin Tech Night" each Thursday CRTC gives training to rebuild computers.
For all of this y much much more I highly recommend CRTC to become your e.waste collector in the Bay Area.
Arturo Martin
the Computer & Technology Resource Center - Bel Marin Keys and Berkeley, CA
CTRC is a non-profit environmental charity with locations in Marin and Alameda Counties. We recycle household electronics and give away free refurbished computers to those in need to help narrow the digital divide around the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1994 we have given away thousands of computers to schools, non-profit organizations and economically and/or physically disadvantaged individuals. Discarded electronics are reclaimed and refurbished in our training program where volunteers learn to restore computers for home, school, and office applications. We are a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation.
E-waste Collection for Re-furbishing and Recycling:
Recycle Electronics: Free of Charge. CTRC helps Bay Area companies to safely, legally, and economically convert formerly dangerous garbage into something useful for your - and our - neighbors.
There's no charge if you drop it off. Computers, Printers, Monitors, TV's, VCR's, Stereos, Phones, & MORE, plus ALL their Accessories; Household or Office, Working or Not, WE'LL TAKE IT. We also accept small appliances such as microwaves, toaster ovens, blenders, and coffee-makers PROVIDED THEY ARE CLEAN. The equipment that you bring to us is tax deductible. Your kind financial donations are also tax deductible.
· We placed refurbished products with non-profit organizations, schools, libraries, victims of fire and tragedy, and low-income and disabled households.
· We are also a BAN certified and State of California authorized eWaste collector. CEWID #100285.
All recycling is done within California by an e-steward recycler. Nothing is shipped overseas to be recycled. CTRC keeps hazardous electronics waste out of the landfill. Although it costs us a little more, our electronics are NOT exported for treatment in countries with low environmental standards. Instead we send all our unrefurbishable electronics to an e-stewards refining center, a metals refinery which processes scrap electronics by shredding and separating the components, ferrous metals (steel), copper and precious metals, aluminum, and plastic. The steel and aluminum are recycled as metals, the plastic is recycled as plastic, and the copper and precious metals are sampled, prepared, and packaged for shipment to a primary copper smelter.
CTRC Recycling Facilities
Our main office: 42 Digital Dr #3, Bel Marin Keys | Novato, CA 94949
Our second facility: 620 Page Street | Berkeley, CA
Phone: (415) 883-1428 | ewastecollective.org | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Computer-Technology-Resource-Center
Volunteers
Volunteers come to us from all walks of life to receive hands-on experience while building and testing equipment to which they would not ordinarily have access. Our volunteer technicians produce computers every week from your donations, to help organizations and families that would not otherwise have the means to obtain this technology. People who need to fulfill Community Service hours may also apply at CTRC. Our volunteers are vital to our program, and help support our organization while we support our community. No previous experience is necessary!
CTRC hosts a "Thursday Tech Nite" program in Novato as a free job-training service to the community.
We open our tech benches on Thursdays from 5pm-9pm. Anyone who wants to help us build computers and load Ubuntu Linux on them is welcome to join us.
These are also the computers we donate back out to the community, so, the more we make, the more we help!
Placements in the Community
Over the last 3 years we've given away over 1300 computers - more than 400 per year. We continue to provide free computers and equipment to local organizations like these, just to name a few:
· Ascend School,
· OUSD,
· Berkeley Community Media,
· Berkeley Food and Housing Program,
· Berkeley Free Clinic,
· Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency,
· Campfire Girls, Vallejo,
· Canal Alliance, Marin County,
· Connecting the Dots, Hercules,
· Digital Media, San Jose,
· Diablo Valley Vet Foundation, Danville,
· Economic Development Foundation, Los Angeles,
· Edna Brewer Middle School,
· Foot in the Door, Oakland,
· Friend of the River, Sacramento,
· Fred Finch Youth Center, Oakland,
· Great Shape, Inc., Oakland,
· Hamilton Wireless, San Rafael,
· Homeward Bound, San Rafael,
· Instituto por Cooperativa las Cruces, for Guatemala,
· Kipp SF Bay Academy, San Francisco,
· Los Altos High School, Los Altos,
· Legal Aid of Marin,
· Mare Island, Vallejo,
· Marin Housing Authority,
· Nepalese Youth Opportunity, Sausalito,
· Operation Tanzania, Newark,
· Our Common Ground, Redwood City,
· Options Recovery, Bay Area,
· Prescott School, Oakland,
· Rainforest Action Network, San Francisco,
· Rising Sun Energy Center, Berkeley,
· Ritter Center, San Rafael,
· Rotary Club of Ignacio,
· San Geronimo Valley Center, San Geronimo,
· Skyline High School, Oakland,
· Street Level Health, Oakland,
· St. Anthony's Foundation, San Francisco,
· St. Vincent de Paul, San Rafael,
· Teen Challenge, Oakland,
· Whistlestop, Marin County.
· Marin Housing Authority
· Marin County Regional Occupation Program (ROP)
· Hamilton Elementary School, Novato,
· The MARS Radio Service, Marin County,
· San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Program
· Marin Center for Independent Living
· Elpida House, San Rafael,
· Swords into Plowshares, San Francisco,
· Big Rock Sudbury School, Novato.