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It’s the quintessential story with all the right components to tear at the Berkeley citizen’s heart: a humble non-profit, an evil government agency, and a valiant fight to end global warming and allow underprivileged school children to have access to MySpace …
A center in Berkeley that recycles and restores computers and other electronics faces the possibility of closing after the Department of Toxic Substance Control cited the facility for failing to maintain a proper inventory of the material they divert and for stockpiling material for more than one year. So far, the center must get up to par or face gargantuan fines, unless further negotiations between the two sides solve this tiff in another way.
Not like we’re taking sides, but it is interesting that the recent drama with the Alameda County Computer Recycling Center has such archetypal Berkeley heroes and villains (Correction: Computer Resource Center).
OK, so according to the Department of Toxic Substance Control, the Berkeley-based ACCRC is violating one of their codes. And the Department of Toxic Substance Control is a division of the Environmental Protection Agency, so that complicates things.
It’s kind of hard to avoid setting aside some “still-salvagables” when you are scrambling to repair thousands of recycled computers and to donate them to schools, groups and individuals around the world. On top of it all, the ACCRC had to find time to be named one of four “Heroes” by CNN for “innovative efforts to preserve and protect the environment.” Saving the world happens on a busy schedule. Fines—or worse yet, closing—will make it bit harder for them to save the world.
In all seriousness though, while the DTSC supposedly protects the environment, it is demanding that things that can be recycled or donated instead should be thrown into the dump.
That doesn’t sound like a fairy-tale ending …
Image Source: Fruggo
Nonprofit Electronics Recycling Center Faces Heavy State Fines [Daily Cal]
State Tries to Reduce Waste by Penalizing Berkeley Recycling Center [92510]
CNN Heroes: Ordinary people, extraordinary achievements [CNN]
