Now that we’ve all converted to digital, what to do with that old TV? Electronics can contain toxic materials such as lead, cadmium, mercury and hazardous chemicals that can harm human health and the environment. Ok, we all know it’s not good for the environment to dump it in a land fill. So it sits around our garage or in the basement, collecting dust waiting for us to figure out what to do.

AtWork!, manager of Issaquah's Recycling Center, has partnered with E‑Cycle Washington to serve as an authorized free drop-off station for recycling computers, CPUs (towers), laptops, monitors and televisions. E-cycling keeps these and other materials out of our landfills and incinerators and conserves natural resources and energy required to make products from scratch. E-cycling helps us all take responsibility for the products we make, buy and use from the beginning to the end of their useful lives.

The recycling center, located at 970 7th Avenue NW, in Issaquah, is open for electronic recycling Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The electronic equipment this program collects will be taken apart and separated into materials such as glass, plastic, metal and toxic chemicals. All recycling will follow performance standards set up by the Department of Ecology.
The recycle center cannot accept keyboards, mice, copiers, scanners, printers, or any other electrical devices. Please note: AtWork! and E‑Cycle Washington are not responsible for the security of remaining data. Please clear your drives before recycling.

All the work of seperating, packaging on pallets, and loading for shipment is done by AtWork!'s clients and staff in our recycle center. Proceeds from this activity go to help pay wages to our clients and support AtWork!'s mission of helping people with disabilities be productive, integrated and contributing members of their communities.

Click here to learn more about E-Cycle Washington or call 1-800-recycle. Click here to learn about AtWork!'s recycling center and all the many products we accept for recycle.

Labels: computer, electronic, recycle, TV

Bob is a person with limited mobility due to quadriplegia who enjoys working with computers. He came to AtWork! right from high school, about 15 years ago. Bob’s father, Doug, has created a personalized interface that allows Bob to interact with a computer. He manages all of his interactions through the use of a head switch on his power wheel chair.

His computer skills have developed over time as computers have changed and his Dad has been involved in creating interactive programs to meet Bob’s needs. When the internet became accessible, Bob’s world really opened up. The latest version of Bob’s special interface has given him the opportunity to work as a volunteer with a local non-profit, FISH at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery.

To accomplish this task, Bob first learned Excel. He is creating a database for FISH that records information about presentations that are made at the hatchery: the presentation, the audience (schools, organizations, government groups) the number of participants, etc. This data will be used to design future presentations. In the past FISH educational staff kept track of these statistics in a handwritten ledger which made it less accessible. Bob’s contribution has very real practical value to FISH.

Bob’s ultimate dream is to move out of the workshop into a job that matches his talents. He is a very positive and engaging individual with much to offer and would like a paid position utilizing his computer skills where he can add value to a business.

Labels: computer, Excel, FISH