...

Now, just so it's clear, I'm responding to this rather seriously. I certainly think something like this is possible, and would even take on a related project myself, but it would require a lot of support.

VCF will not go into that field. We * used to * take all kinds of stuff. Nowadays we are highly selective and sticking to real policies about what we'll take and not take. On Sun, Dec 2, 2018, 9:17 PM m simons via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org wrote:

On Friday, November 30, 2018, 4:14:20 PM EST, Laura S. Reinhard via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >Like the goodwill idea. Or maybe a new nonprofit that serves such a purpose? Perhaps some >people in this group could get the ball rolling (and hand off).

...

...

If we could talk goodwill into opening a science store here and there with all the strange stuff they send to Dell for recycling... Isn't VCF and all the other groups at InfoAge mostly nonprofit groups that get all sorts of weird electronics and stuff, some of which that are surplus to find new homes for?

Part of the problem is, of course, that 1) You need enough space, and resources (human and otherwise) to make such a thing feasible and 2) Some of what you would be getting in is essentially potentially hazardous waste / ewaste that has some potential liability, and will cost some $$ to dispose of properly if you can't find it new homes.

Now, just so it's clear, I'm responding to this rather seriously. I certainly think something like this is possible, and would even take on a related project myself, but it would require a lot of support.

(For the record, I've previously been a manager of a nonprofit materials exchange, and I recently joined the board of a recycling nonprofit organization in PA. It's certainly in our wheelhouse to do this, but we need space, people, and funding.)

--Michael S.