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Archive for the ‘Recycling’ Category

It Takes a Family to Recycle

June 20, 2011 Comments off

A new shelf goes up in the MacRecycleClinic workspace at Marvin Church.

I took a look back at this blog and realized we’re closing in on six months since we got RecycleMac started. MacRecycleClinic was reestablished earlier than that, of course (after a two year hiatus). But it feels like we are really only now getting everything finally back together. It’s taken awhile to get the word out – we are finally starting to get more customers (guests/patrons/Mac aficionados) and making some progress on some other projects like the Mac Lab at Marvin and making community contacts.

We have added more shelving to the office space to get our refurbished computers off the floor. We donated a Mac laptop to the Blair High School AfterProm Committee for senior Daniel Naval to take to college. And we’ve helped some wonderful people get their Macs working again. Our agreement with the county to take Macs that would otherwise be recycled at the Shady Grove facility is also starting to bear some fruit – we find there are parts we can use if nothing else. The other day, a machine came in that had no memory or hard drive, but the Airport Extreme wireless card had been left in! It was easily the most valuable part.

Macs being refurbished for donation. Come see what we're doing any Monday night!

We continue to look for ways to work with the Silver Spring and Montgomery County communities to get computers into the hands of folks who don’t have them. We remain open to suggestions and will gladly take referrals from non-profits who feel someone they work with could use a computer. In many cases, we can also provide a printer so there’s a complete solution (just provide the Internet and ink cartridges!)

We look forward to the future as we are able to make more alliances and get the word out that MacRecycleClinic can, in a small way, make a difference in our community.

Looking for Old Software for your Recycled Macintosh?

May 14, 2011 Comments off

It can be hard finding older versions of software. Whether you have an older Mac (OK or PC or computer running Linux) or just need to go back a version (like I did recently with Firefox) you don’t always know where to go.

That’s why I was happy to find a website called oldapps.com – which offers quite a few choices (tho not commercial software) you might need. Check out the Mac site at : http://mac.oldapps.com/.

Software Update – June 29, 2011: From MacInTouch:

TenFourFox 5.0 is a port of Firefox for PowerPC Macs (G3, G4, and G5) that “uses modified Firefox source code, rewritten to remain compatible with Mac OS X v10.4 and the Power Macintosh. It also contains specific optimizations and special features for PowerPC processors.” This release includes “All new standard features of Firefox 5.0, including CSS animation, multiple bug fixes, improvements to canvas and graphic display, and a faster browser core.” TenFourFox is free for Mac OS X 10.4.11 and up (PowerPC).

And one more from the TenFourFox website: Are you looking for a web browser for Mac OS 8.6-9.2.2 (and compatible with 10.1.5-10.3.9)? Try our sister project, Classilla.

Let us know if you have other suggestions and we’ll create a list for everyone to enjoy!

Why We Recycle: A Personal Story

Jessica Snow is an environmentalist showing off her refurbished MacBook.

Jessica Snow receives her refurbished MacBook during the MRC's Monday Night Clinic.

MacRecycleClinic is a small group – with a collective big heart. We are all volunteers but like many who care, we put a lot of time and effort into what we do. We care about the environment and want to play a part – admittedly a small one – to help folks continue to get good service out of computers that others no longer want or need.

The fact that we only work with Macintosh computers is a benefit of the job. We’re also passionate about Apple products and from long experience, we know they will provide years of good service with just a little loving care.

So when Jessica Snow – a college student who cares deeply about the environment – came to us, we were happy to work with her. Jessica – a former blogger for the Examiner newspapers – needed something portable and easy to care for. A MacBook was the answer.

Read more…

Silver Spring Patch Covers MacRecycleClinic

April 14, 2011 Comments off
MacRecycleClinic Volunteers - by Patch reporter Ben Gross

MacRecyleClinic volunteers - Photo courtesy Silver Spring Patch

Thanks to the Patch’s Ben Gross for visiting MacRecycleClinic’s Monday Night Clinic a few weeks back. His article appeared online and starts:

According to the EPA, between 2005 and 2010, more than 250 million computers became useless, with less than 10 percent of them being recycled. In fact, more than 85 percent of the computers “thrown away” wind up in landfills.

At the same time, many individuals and families lack the financial resources to have a home computer. One local company has found a way to address both problems at once – Silver Spring’s MAC Recycle Clinic.

(The Patch got a little excited with the caps – but we’re thrilled to have the story out there!)

If you’d like to read the entire story – the URL is: http://bit.ly/fo9KqX