E-Waste Company Benefits Education

Have you often wondered about the best way to get rid of your old and obsolete electronics?

Electronic recycling events abound in the area; however, a lot of them are just middlemen who will then pass on your e-waste to another person or site, according to Jeff Albert, director of operations of PC Recycle, based in Newbury Park. “Consumers need to know who they’re dealing with. Some recyclers charge fees to offset their costs or they travel hundreds of miles which doesn’t really reduce their carbon footprint.”

PC Recycle does not do this. Its facility is open Monday to Friday to receive e-waste drop-offs. It also offers pick-up service for bulk items almost anywhere in LA, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Currently, the company is the only state and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved e-waste recycler in the entire Conejo Valley.

Twice a year, the company heads over to Agoura Hills to collect all the e-waste from Agoura businesses. The city-sponsored events benefit the Las Virgenes Educational Foundation (LVEF).

“It’s been a great partnership so far,” said Stuart Selter, executive director of LVEF. “The proceeds from the e-waste recycling events benefit a year-round college application program for eighth to twelfth graders called College Application and Acceptance Program (CAAP).”

It also supports professional development for teachers so they can be sent to conferences, said Selter, who envisions making the event quarterly.

In the near future, Selter will also propose expanding the program to include Westlake Village as well as increase the number of drop-off points instead of just City Hall, which is the current set-up.

Anything electronic can be recycled, according to Albert. When an individual or a business drops off a PC for instance, it will initially be tested to determine whether it’s working or not. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the PCs are no longer working.

“If data has not been destroyed, we can do it for them for a fee,” said Albert. “That’s the only service we charge for.”

Aside from PCs, television sets, toasters, microwaves and various consumer electronics can be dropped off at its recycling facility on Azurite Circle behind Home Depot.

The only items that PC Recycle will not accept are light bulbs and alkaline batteries. “There is a separate program for alkaline batteries,” said Albert.

Its founder and CEO, Farhad “Matt” Saifyan was well ahead of his time when he launched the company in Seattle, back in 1998 with only one client–Microsoft.

“Matt basically approached Microsoft and asked them what they did with their e-waste and that’s how it all began,” said Albert. “We joke that he got tired of the rain that’s why he moved the company to Newbury Park in 2008.”

Agoura Hills Patch got a tour of the 15,000-square foot facility, and Albert pointed out the only shredding machine for metal in the entire region. Everything is separated into plastic, metals, etc., and 95 percent of these materials go to domestic buyers, said Albert.

Keeping e-waste away from landfills is one of the company's priorities. Albert said, “We know where everything is going. You should too."