CommuniTech Recycling Center

Part of The Academy for Career Development

420 Dewey Avenue
Rochester, NY 14613

We are in the building behind the City Recreation Department Administration Building on the 2nd Floor.

Hours of Operation: 8:15am-4:15pm M-F
(call the Helpdesk first, before visiting).

Phone Numbers:

HELP Desk 585-232-9160
Recycling Center 585-719-9992

The CommuniTech Recycling center is the remanufacturing arm of The Academy for Career Development. Our role is to find and recycle the computers that will be used to reward city residents both young and old for completing one of the Academy’s educational programs. The computers we recycle are given to those most in need of computer technology. Through computer training and the gift of free computer equipment, we are enabling citizens to bridge the digital divide.

The CommuniTech Recycling Center is staffed primarily with volunteers who share our vision that ALL people shall have equal access to computer technology and the knowledge of how to use it to effectively participate in the digital economy and lifelong learning opportunities afforded by digital technologies and communications networks. Through the generosity of the City of Rochester, corporate supporters and caring individuals, we have received the computers that we use to meet the needs driven by the Academy’s educational programs. The combination of dedicated volunteers and generous donations has made a difference. Since the Academy’s inception in 1992 over 1,500 students have graduated from various computer skills training programs and over 1,100 computers have been recycled and distributed to those graduates.

Donated equipment helps open up a new world of opportunity for disabled and disadvantaged adults and children to experience access to technology and information that were limited before the donation. Because of donations, it makes it possible for each student, young and old, who graduates from one of the Academy’s programs to have his/her own take-home computer. There are no adequate words to describe each student’s excitement and enthusiasm when given his/her computer system. It’s very important for you to know how much joy donations bring to our students and their families.

Donating unused working computers makes sense in several ways. First, it allows older computers to begin a new lease on life in the homes of needy Rochester residents. Second, by donating working computers to us it avoids any disposal charges encountered when scrapping old equipment. Third, by giving old computer equipment to us for recycling and redeployment it protects the environment by delaying the eventual trip to the landfill. Please only bring us working Pentium III computers or above so you don’t pass your disposal problem along to us.

We accept the following items:

Minimum Equipment Specifications Table
Item Type	Minimum Spec
Computers (Desktop or Tower)	Functional Pentium III 500 MHz or better, 128 MB RAM, Hard Disk 6 GB or higher
Computers (Laptop)	Functional Pentium III or better, 128 MB RAM, Hard Disk 6 GB or higher, with working display, battery, and power supply
Monitors	Working 17” CRT/LCD with signal cable
Keyboards and Mice	Standard QWERTY with PS/2 or USB connector
Power Cords, Video Cords/Cables	Working: Standard types
Speakers	Working with cables and power supplies
DVD or CDROMS	Working
Network Cards	Working
Video & Sound Cards	Working

We also accept cash donations. Cash that is donated is used for the materials needed in the recycling process and for enhancements to donated PCs.

Please note that as recipients of your donated equipment CommuniTech declares that:

Any hard drives utilized in our recycling/remanufacturing effort will be wiped clean prior to reusing;
Any hard drive that cannot be reused will be physically destroyed before being disposed of;
Any equipment being disposed of through this donation will be done so in accordance with the disposal laws of NY State.

The Academy is a not-for-profit 501c3 charitable organization; and, as such, all donations whether in cash or in-kind can be utilized for tax purposes. We certainly would be very pleased to provide necessary documentation if you wish to participate in that opportunity. If you wish to take a tax advantage associated with your donation, please provide the information requested below. If you are interested in donating equipment please include the equipment information in the comments section in the “Contact Us” form below.

All space and utilities for the CommuniTech’s Computer Recycling Center are provided through the generosity of the City of Rochester. The recycling center has been in existence since 2000, and accepts equipment donations from individuals and corporations. As a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) CommuniTech, via The Academy, meets all MAR standards and guidelines when refurbishing donated computers. All remanufacturing is performed by CommuniTech Computer Support Specialist Apprentices and volunteers supervised by CommuniTech Technical Support Managers.

If you wish to learn more, click on Contact Us and fill out our form. Check the boxes next to the programs you are interested in.

We greatly appreciate your generosity, and thank you for your interest and support.

With Sincere Gratitude and Best Regards,

Tom Lyons
Director
CommuniTech Recycling Center