Goodwill's Computer Dismantle Program

You know, sometimes this green thing can get a bit depressing. There's a lot of waste out there, and no matter how much of it gets recycled, we always seem to throw more and more away. So it's good to see that e-waste can do good, if only on a small scale (for now).

Over in Salem, Oregon, Goodwill has started a vocational program for developmentally disabled adults that aims to deal with some portion of the 500 million computers in the US. (Let's see, we're responsible for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... ugh, time to stop counting.) The workers are trained to safely disassemble the computers and sort the parts, which are then sold to electronics scrappers and resellers.

With the number of electronic gizmos and gadgets in our homes multiplying, well, like bunnies, programs like this could help deal with a very real problem and, at the same time, provide skills and a sense of purpose to people in our community.

Story via StatesmanJournal.com; image Andrea J. Wright