If you think it’s hard to compete on razor thin margins today, Vancouver-based Electronic Recycling Association (ERA) is going to make it even harder.
The Vancouver-based non-profit organization who is dedicated to reducing electronic waste through the reuse and recycling of unwanted computers, laptops and related electronic equipment is now offering small business the chance to get notebooks, LCD flat-panel displays, desktop PCs, servers and even Cisco networking gear for any the low, low price of between $20 and $50.
According to the ERA, any business can now be operational, technology wise for around $100. ERA has for the most part focused on low income families and they do this at no-charge for the most part. This is the first time the association has targeted the business community. The technology comes from corporate donors. All data has been removed and ERA has open source software readily available, as well as some corporate regular software.
ERA has donation depots throughout Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton. ERA has also gone into the developed a hard drive shredding and wiping service. ERA has procured several Ameri-Shred mobile hard drive shredders, they say that can destroy up to 200 hard drives per hour. ERA also provides military wipes of hard drives.
Just in the month of May, ERA has donates green technology to the Scouts Canada in Calgary, the Rainbow Society of Alberta in Calgary, Norquest College in Edmonton, Camp Moomba in BC, and Vecova in Calgary.
ERA receives no government funding or grants, it sells used computers and laptops to pay for trucks, warehouse, and employees.
Meanwhile, in other green technology news, Compugen Finance’s Green4Good program continues to roll. It has a new program called Connect For Success in partnership with Microsoft and Rogers. The goal of this initiative is to improve digital literacy in underserved communities throughout Canada. Compugen Finance will be the provider of low-cost, quality refurbished computers, augmenting a $9.95 per month broadband access from Rogers and Microsoft productivity software, Learning Suite and digital literacy training for pre-qualified families .
In addition this program will also provide large enterprises the opportunity to re-channel used equipment to support a great cause, without financial risk, while ensuring a long, productive and life-altering secondary use.