Duration: Ongoing (Annual Review Cycle)
Department: Community Engagement & Sustainability
1. Program Purpose
To create a sustainable, community-driven system for collecting, sorting, and repurposing discarded technology and mechanical components. This supports:
- STEM education & low-cost prototyping
- Environmental responsibility & e-waste diversion
- Green grant eligibility
- Public engagement through visible, tangible reuse
2. Program Components
A. Public Drop-Off Station
- Open 5 days/week, staffed 2 days/week by trained volunteers or interns
- Clearly marked “Tech Salvage Drop Zone” at facility entrance
- Accepted Items:
- Computers, monitors, laptops
- Circuit boards, power supplies, cables
- Robotics kits, printers, cameras, motors
- Batteries (bagged/boxed), tool parts, electronic toys
- Unsafe items (CRT monitors, leaking batteries) are logged separately and routed to certified recyclers
B. Salvage & Sort Process
- Weekly intake days (Fri/Sat)
- All items are:
- Tested for safety and functionality
- Tagged with one of 3 status labels:
▪ Reusable | ▪ Repairable | ▪ Recycle Only - Entered into a public inventory database via QR code scanning
- Reusable items stored in transparent bins by category
- Inventory publicly browsable in the Makerspace and online
C. Educational Integration
- Beginner Repair & Restoration Classes (e.g. “Fix Your First Laptop”)
- Reclaimed Robotics Lab: all youth and intern robotics kits sourced from salvage
- Monthly “Tinker Day” for families and hobbyists to explore the bin wall
- All salvage integrated into:
- AI device casing builds
- Arduino & Raspberry Pi labs
- Smart sensor remixes
- Art & kinetic sculpture projects
3. Environmental Impact Metrics
| Target Metric | Annual Goal |
|---|---|
| E-Waste Collected | 10,000+ lbs |
| Devices Diverted from Landfill | 500+ units |
| Lithium/Alkaline Batteries Recycled | 1,000+ |
| Items Reused in Projects | 100–200+ |
| Reduction in Project Hardware Costs | 25–40% savings |
| STEM Workshops Using Salvage Gear | 12+ per year |
4. Safety Protocols
- All battery deposits stored in fire-retardant containers, outside main lab area
- Toxic components (CRT glass, lead solder, bloated Li-ion cells) immediately isolated
- PPE required for all dismantling (gloves, goggles)
- Items are not resold without tested certification or visual inspection
- Monthly disposal partnership with certified Pittsburgh-area e-waste facilities (e.g. eLoop, Evolution E-Cycling)
5. Funding Use & Grant Alignment
Funds requested for:
- Drop zone setup (containers, signage, shelving)
- PPE and toolkits for sorting crew
- QR/barcode inventory system
- Educational materials and instructor stipends
- Partnership development with local recyclers
Aligns with:
- ✅ EPA Environmental Education Grants
- ✅ DOE Clean Energy Innovation
- ✅ NSF Greening STEM
- ✅ Pennsylvania DEP E-Waste Reduction Initiatives
- ✅ Richard King Mellon Foundation’s sustainability and STEM education goals
6. Community & Equity Impact
- Neighborhood tech drop-off days build trust and foot traffic
- Local households benefit by safely disposing of tech
- Youth from underserved backgrounds gain hands-on access to real-world systems
- Salvage Lab provides non-intimidating entry to STEM through physical engagement
7. Long-Term Vision
- Circular economy node: parts become projects, projects become IP
- Open-source repair manuals generated by students
- City-wide e-waste challenge events in collaboration with Pittsburgh schools
- Development of a Green Inventory Exchange Network between local orgs, schools, and labs
Appendix A: Sample Signage
🛠️ Welcome to the Yarian Salvage Yard
Got tech? Give it a second life.
Drop your old gadgets, busted robots, motors, and batteries here.
They’ll help build the future instead of filling a landfill.