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About the Program
In 2000 the Australian Computer Society (ACS) launched a Special Interest Group (SIG) to address the dual needs of people without access to computers at present and to extend the life of personal computers by relocating them to individuals and organisations in need.
The Adelaide-based PC Recycling Group relies on the generosity of both donors of equipment and their members who work voluntarily in receiving the equipment, reconditioning it, redistributing it and providing short term support to the recipients.
Our focus is on refurbishing computers for re-use, rather than recycling itself.
As part of our professional responsibility to provide an outreach service to the larger community, we think that in extending the life of these older computers and giving them to people who otherwise would not be engaged with any form of computing, we will encourage the use of new technologies. This scheme makes it possible for people to get involved in computing at low cost and no risk to themselves. In this way they may well, sometime in the future, take steps towards their own purchase of newer computers and software.
The scheme will take selected working machines of Pentium IV or above and recondition them adding appropriately licenced or freely available open source operating systems software and application programs for word processing, spreadsheets and games.
If a recipient has specific software or hardware needs and we can meet them we will.
In 2004 the ACS PC Recycling Group became a Community Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher (CMARS). From 1 July 2010 this program has changed and we are now known as a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher (MRR), which allows us to provide a Microsoft Windows operating system to computers for eligible recipients.
The ACS PC Recycling Group can also provide computers to those who would not qualify under the (MRR) program. We have a limited number of Windows XP licences or will use free software such as one of the linux distributions. We favour, support and promote Ubuntu [(http://www.ubuntu.com/)].
Between 2004 and 2007 we, together with the Salvation Army's Employment Plus Community work programs, started the Work for the Dole program which meant that we were able to handle and refurbish many more computers to put back into the community. This program was expanded to include Uniting Care Wesley Port Adelaide who we worked with to provide training to unemployed people in the North Eastern area of metropolitan Adelaide.
Between 2007 and 2009 the ACS PC Recycling Group operated from premises at Glandore. It shut its workshop doors at Christmas 2009 due to a change in the market with demand for second hand desktop computers reaching an all-time low. It maintained a limited clinic service until August 2010 when it commenced operating from its own premises co-located with the SA Branch at Kent Town on Tuesdays.
Sponsors and Supporters
The program is a result of generous donors of equipment the first of whom have included the Barr Smith Library of Adelaide University, FH Faulding Pty Ltd, Adelaide Bank Charitable Foundation, C&PA and RAA. In more recent times we are grateful for the support of the Computer Recycling Scheme (CRS) who provides a significant number of the machines we refurbish today and The Yalumba Wine Company.
We also acknowledge the support of the now defunct Computer Industry Association of SA (CIASA).
Our thanks also go to Robin at Laptop World [(http://www.laptopworld.com.au/)]for his support of our limited laptop program.
Where are we?
From 1 August 2010 you will find us at 54 King William Street Kent Town. We are open to the public between 2pm and 7pm on Tuesdays.
Appointments at other times can be made by emailing mailto:communitycomputers@sa.acs.org.au or by phoning 08 7127 1581 on Tuesday. Our telephone answering service is monitored at all times and messages left for us will be returned as quickly as possible.
For a map to the location and to get directions to the office see http://www.acs.org.au/sa/contacts.htm.
I Want a PC please
Just fill in the form here application form (in MS Word format) and email it to mailto:communitycomputers@sa.acs.org.au or send to ACS PC Recyclers Program, C/- PO BOX 333, FULLARTON SA 50631. Please ring to discuss the application and arrange a pickup date.
To be eligible to receive a PC and Microsoft software from the ACS PC Recycling Group through the MRR program an applicant must be one or other of the following:
- a holder of a current Health Care Card, Aged Pension Card, Disability Card
- have some other form of documentation relating to low-income or disadvantage
- a charity or a non-profit organisation
- an infant, primary or secondary school registered in a State or Territory of Australia by the relevant authority
- a TAFE college
The machines we can supply have mostly been donated by companies because they are not suitable to run the latest software or with the latest devices. This means the machine we can give you will be at least 4 years old and will have the sorts of facilities found in business machines of that vintage. If you need a computer capable of running the latest games we are not likely to be able to help you.
In March 2006 we introduced a charge for the computers we refurbish to help with the ongoing cost of providing this volunteer based service.
The current costs, as at August 2011, for a desktop or tower computer range from $80 to $180. We are now stocking mostly pentium IV laptops but do sometimes have more modern ones. There are various option packs for both laptops and desktops/towers including DVD burners, Skype headsets etc when available, details are on the application form. In 2012 we will introduce a website with more information about the systems available for you to browse.
Please contact us to discuss the current rates and specifications at the time you apply.
Country clients will have their computer freighted for free where possible.
Please note: As at 15 November 2011 the waiting time for a PC is between 1 and 2 weeks.
What happens next?
When we receive your application, one of our volunteers will call you to discuss your needs and to arrange a time for you to collect your machine.
I can give PC/s to this program
If you have computers in working order that you're no longer using and would like to make them available to this program please contact us. Our minimum specification is Pentium IV 2Ghz CPU. Note: We do not take monitors, older equipment or non-working machines or peripherals, if you have such equipment to dispose of, try http://www.recyclingnearyou.com.au.
Contact
Our contact officer is Stefan Kreslin <kreslsj@gmail.com> or telephone 0401 495 010. If Stefan is not available please mailto:communitycomputers@sa.acs.org.au or phone 08 7127 1581 and leave a message.
Triple-C Computer Club
This is a computer club for people who want to learn about using their computer. The idea is that people will join the Club at no cost and come along as often as they can to learn and to share what they have learned with others. It is likely to be volunteer led and driven, so if you have an interest in helping with the Club or if you would like to register your interest in joining the club and participating in the group's activities, email us with your contact details mailto:communitycomputers@sa.acs.org.au?Subject=Triple-C%20Registration%20of%20Interest and we'll get back to you.
Other Schemes
Give us a call or email us for details about other computer refurbishing and recycling schemes or visit http://www.recyclingnearyou.com.au/ to find a local recycler.
Footnotes: 1. For the pedantic amongst you, the form is provided in MS Word so that most people who will complete the form can do so at a computer, avoiding the problem of handwriting challenges. Most computers will have MS Word or similar available on them and thus can adequately manage using this proprietary product. To provide the form in PDF format would prevent this operation. Using plain text, as in emails, makes it difficult for volunteers to locate the information they need on the non-standard layout that plain text typically provides. If you really must show how committed you are to the open standards course, feel free to send the form using OpenOffice or similar.
