Brainerd business recycling electronics
The computer's outer case cracked open like an egg shell as its parts were divided among bins at Hughes Technologies in Brainerd.
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Plastics. Copper. Aluminum. Gold. Styrofoam. Nothing went to waste. The computer's stripped down components went into separate recycling bins. The plastic is ground into pellets for reuse. For many of the interior computer components, be it copper coil or precious metals, it will take a lot of systems before it adds up in quantity. For the gold, it will also take considerable effort for extraction.
But as more people look to upgrade electronics, Hughes Technologies is hoping to provide a recycling service and carve a green niche.
It's not the company's only calling, Hughes Technologies was already established as a provider of technical support - workstations, printers and servers to networks, disaster prevention and recovery and security.
Mike Rens took apart a computer at Hughes Technologies' new office space on Wright Street in the Brainerd Industrial Park. The technology business recently added electronic-waste recycling and is working with area charities to help them raise funds while recycling electronics from computers to electric toothbrushes.
Computer components, with everything from lead to precious metals found inside, are being recycled at Hughes Technologies in the Brainerd Industrial Park.
Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
At Hughes Technologies' new office space on Wright Street in the Brainerd Industrial Park, the building provides room for service on working electronics and computers along with space to take apart the units that no longer have useful life.
The doors are open weekdays for people who want to recycle their electronics. For monitors and printers, Hughes Technologies asks 30 cents a pound and everything else is taken in for free.
Owner Wes Hughes said all the parts go to end-of-life environmentally safe facilities in the U.S. Hughes said if the facility doesn't know where the parts are going or if they are sending them to Asia instead of an American recycler, his company won't deal with them.
Hughes said he was inspired to expand his technology business into recycling electronic waste after viewing a segment on "60 Minutes" titled "The Electronic Wasteland" about electronic trash and toxins, like lead and mercury, ending up in Asia with mountains of computers and health concerns related to the pollution.
Hughes applied for a $150,000 e-waste collection grant with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. If the grant is approved, it will allow the company to do more outreach.
As Mike Rens recently took apart a computer system on Wright Street, he said the work had its perks. There aren't concerns about damaging a delicate computer when the goal is to reduce it to parts. Monitors with lead go to a company in Janesville where parts are ground into pellets.
"We're about as green as you can get," Rens said.
Computer components, with everything from lead to precious metals found inside, are being recycled at Hughes Technologies in the Brainerd Industrial Park.
Computer components, with everything from lead to precious metals found inside, are being recycled at Hughes Technologies in the Brainerd Industrial Park.
Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
In addition to being environmentally friendly, or green, the business is working to give back to the community, Rens said.
Hughes Technologies is joining with charitable organizations in E-Waste Rally fundraisers. At the rallies, people bringing the items pay a fee for the recycling. Fees range from $1 for a digital camera to $4 for a computer tower to 50 cents a pound for TVs, fax machines, toothbrushes, razors and monitors. The proceeds benefit the participating charity and Hughes Technologies takes the electronics for recycling.
Rens said they'd like to have every weekend filled with a charity now through Christmas. Rens said area food shelves are particularly good candidates as they experience greater demand for their services this holiday season.
With a tough economy, Rens said this was a way to give back.
An E-Waste Rally is planned from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 10 near the Gregory Park tennis courts in Brainerd. Proceeds go to the First Congregational United Church supported nonprofits of the Food Shelf, Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen and InterFaith Hospitality Network and Youth Group.
The E-Waste Rally isn't for appliances. Sought after items include computer towers/ monitors/keyboards, printers, fax machines, stereos/radios, TVs and TV modems, cell phones, personal digital assistants, MP3 players, CDs and DVDs and VCRs, laptops, digital cameras or camcorders, transformers, cables, even electric toothbrushes or razors.
In the 1003 Wright St. building, Hughes Technologies is sharing space with Midwest Security & Fire Inc.
Harry Brodmarkle, Midwest Security & Fire president, said the move into the building gave his company more space and sharing the building with Hughes creates opportunities to network and work on projects together.
Brodmarkle was at the business with employee Jared Heldt during a recent open house. Brodmarkle said he added staff during the summer and he is positive about the business outlook moving forward. He said the additional space also allows the company to host social networking events as a way to get people acquainted with the business.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.