Nuestra Comunidad: One man’s computer junk is another’s treasure

www.compmunityfoundation.org

From inside a garage in Smyrna, a solution is forming to a modern dilemma — what becomes of all the discarded electronic devices that people and businesses throw out?

Rolando Godoy, an agronomist with a master’s degree in information technology, has dedicated part of his home to a two-year-old project: Compmunity Foundation.

What began as an experiment has turned into a non-profit foundation that recycles and reuses old computer parts donated from local companies — parts which, if not for this garage, may have ended up in a computer graveyard.

It is estimated that by 2017 electronic waste or e-waste (outdated computers, telephones and other similar gadgets) will reach 65 million tons, according to a study by StEP, an initiative of the United Nations. That’s about 200 times the weight of the Empire State Building.

“On average, people and businesses in the United States replace their equipment every two years. Even if the processors aren’t the fastest on the market, due to technological advances, that equipment can still be utilized to almost 100 percent capacity,” Godoy explained.

To date, one of his largest computer donors has been Roger’s Electric, a company dedicated to the development of electric systems.

“We started donating to Compmunity Foundation two years ago. We replace our systems every 30 months and this is an opportunity for us to take outdated equipment, which has zero value for us, to benefit children education and healthcare,” said Lin Rogers, chairman at Roger’s Electric.

Even though Compmunity Foundation has not been in operation for very long, Godoy has achieved modest but meaningful results.

One of these has been using recycled computers to open computer labs at Los Niños Primero, an organization dedicated to the education of Latino youth in Sandy Springs, as well as The Path Project, which offers educational programs to adolescents living in mobile homes in Snellville.

Wheels of Happiness, which focuses on those with disabilities, is another non-profit that has benefited from the efforts of Compmunity Foundation.

“Compmunity refurbished a computer and scanner that my foundation donated to a rural hospital in Kenya that attends children with disabilities to keep records of their patients,” said Enzo Piscopo, CEO of Wheels of Happiness.

As he sees success locally, Godoy strives to expand the mission. He’d like to establish branches in Central and South America. First though, Godoy believes his organization must obtain larger economic incentives, which are necessary to help reduce the aforementioned 65 million tons of e-waste.