Save computers from Recyclers in Michigan April 19

What, exactly, is your goal here? Other than simple hoarding, I can't see any reason why obsolete and broken computers shouldn't be recycled.

And regardless of location, it's probably illegal in your jurisdiction to do what you plan.

I probably won't be going. But there are othes looking for certain items, or systems. Not all of the computers turned in are broken or bad.

I can see that you are not a collector. Collectors someday may be described as having OCD.

I support you Twilight_Rodent

But...if you'd looked into the program a bit further, keeping electronics out the landfills is the whole point of the collection.

I've rescued quite a lot of systems from both landfill and recycling over the years, but as Dr. Webster posted, I don't see the point of going as far as protesting with signs and theft for cherry picking the odd tidbit for your collection. You imply environmental concerns, but your focus from subsequent posts seems to be more on collecting.

The reason the city can't allow people to remove items from the recycling is, since it's for recycling and not standard "garbage collection", the city accepts responsibility for privacy protection and could face legal issues should someone's private data turn up elsewhere from a system they'd accepted. That's also why some thrift stores, etc., no longer take computers. Sucks for people who do collect, but in our society so heavily burdened with lawyers, there's a strong motivation to cover your butt. The alternative is to simply landfill them, so the city's going out on a limb about as far as they can go here.

If you really want to accomplish both environmental and collection goals, start organizing vintage computer swap meets the weekend before these hazardous drop-off dates, or look at examples like the PC Museum that collect vintage machines as well as refurbish more modern machines and distribute them freely to those in need.
Proactive is much more successful than reactive.

With Apple II there is no HD most of the time, so privacy issues are mute. I really doubt that there will be that much vintage stuff.

But with this age of lawyers, the IBM mind set is in place. All software is destroyed. All the 5.25 and 3.5 disks. They act under the assumption that it is all leased. No hassels, no problems, less work for them.

The recylers really do not want to be bothered unless you are willing to spend around $50-100 dollars other wise it is not worth there time Evenn to talk to you.

As for your statment " you imply environmental concerns, but your focus from subsequent posts seems to be more on collecting." What other reasons would a person want to keep some usefull, but old, out of a land fill? Art perhaphs. I am not saying recyling is bad, it is needed. But their is not much ballance in the ways things are done.

I did not advocate protesting with signs. The signs would have been asking for certain items. Before they are dropped off. That is all.

With the price of gas and the constraints of time, people are not going to make seperate trips.

Being proactive is always better. But I do not have the $$$ the space, or know what dates this will take place in the future. I would doubt you would be able to even reach any of those dropping items off. I know I came across this by accident and I look for this, auctions, and postings all the time everyday. Which is surprising to me that I did not see it at all.

My bad...I misread. The wanted signs are a pretty good idea.

I'd considered trying to organize a swap meet a couple years ago, but then found the computer museum that does pretty much that once a year. Around the same time I realized I had far too many computers (or too small a house, perhaps) and have been slowly purging more than collecting recently.

Is there a Freecycle list in your area? I ended up getting a couple Atari STs through mine, as well as it being a good way to unload hardware.

Another thing to look into...the guys picking up the computers at the recycling drops are, at least where I am, contract workers not city employees. I was able to talk an SE/30 out of one of their vans just by politely asking.

Our local recyclers (and my favorite hardware shopping destination) are Surplus Exchange, who run many of the local civic recycling drives. I've picked up hardware that was destined to be donated to them at the main warehouse before. One time I was standing on the loading dock with a worker getting my bill of sale filled out to go make my purchase. A guy came up with a couple LC-class Macs and monitors. He didn't realize that it costs $12 to drop off a CRT to cover the haz-mat handling fees. Anyway, I piped up that I would take them for him if he didn't want to/couldn't afford to pay for it all. The worker was sympathetic and didn't mind. It surely pays to ask a person before it enters the donation cycle because then you skip over the liability issue as you are getting the items directly from the (presumable) owner.