With Pesach quickly approaching and the annual ritual of cleaning our homes will shortly begin in earnest. Homemakers will meticulously clean, scrub and rid their homes of any and all unnecessary items that have accumulated over the course of the year. During this season a walk in Brooklyn will surely result in the sighting of “shaimos trucks” strategically parked in front of shuls and Batei Midrashim—a community service which allows people to discard their shaimos in a kosher and halachically sound manner.
This year, HASC Center will provide a similar community service to help individuals discard their unwanted computers, printers, copy machines and paper. HASC Center is working with LionCage, a very reputable establishment in a coordinated effort to provide this service. LionCage operates state of the art shredding trucks as well mobile data destruction units to ensure compliance with strict privacy regulations. During the weeks prior to Pesach, LionCage trucks will be parked in especially designated areas according to a pre-determined schedule. (see www.LionCage.com\Pesach for locations) Individuals will have the option to drop off the equipment at no cost and to witness the on-site degaussing, sanitization and or shredding of their hard drives to allay any security concerns. Offsite scheduled pickups are available as well for nominal fee.
The program also serves an even greater need. It is a response to ever-increasing consensus that employment is crucial for improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. Employment is considered a benchmark for measuring the success of special education programs, so HASC Center established the HASC eCycling program. It allows our disabled and non-disabled residents to work side-by-side with IT and Recycling professionals who work with our NAID AAA certified partner, LionCage, to pay our workers a respectable minimum wage for performing services that may be required by law.
HASC Center retro-fitted a large factory-like facility that once served as a traditional workshop. It is now a modern, technologically sophisticated work environment with specialized equipment and highly complex security systems. These systems track each piece of electronic equipment which enters the facility until it is disassembled into its component parts. Such security measures ensure that all hard drives and data are accounted for and their destruction is securely monitored according to industry standards.
Large pallets of used computers, digital boxes, printers and copiers arrive at the facility. They are logged in and immediately thereafter, disassembly begins. Workers, with disabilities and without, use hand-held electric screwdrivers, drills and other tools to take apart a particular item. Then they place each component into its respective bin. There are bins for plastic material, others for wires, mother boards and another for metal parts. When these large bins are at capacity they are trucked to the point of destination where they are appropriately re-cycled. All magnetic media is degaussed, sanitized, compacted or punctured, and all data is destroyed by LionCage in a secure compliant manner.
The advantage of having this enterprise under the auspices of HASC Center is that allowances are made for initial assessment and skills training of individuals, in conjunction with on-going interventions during the course of employment.
The eCycling Center provides recycling services for both the private sector and businesses, and uses the highest industry standards in safety and security, as well as, providing “green tech” jobs for the disabled. However, the eCycling program is very much dependent on individuals, mid-size businesses, and large corporations in providing their unwanted electronic equipment to the eCycling Center.
There are three important advantages for those who avail themselves of this service in the eCycling their ‘retired’ equipment. First, there is an effortless option as to how and where to discard aging equipment. Second, they know that their ‘retired’ equipment is being discarded in an eco-friendly manner helping the environment and not contributing to the waste stream. Third, they are helping to support the employment of people with disabilities and will contribute to their establishing productive and meaningful lives. From every perspective, recycling with HASC Center & LionCage is a win-win experience
To learn more about the Pesach – Passover recycling program, please contact HASC Center Josh at 646-285-5362 or LionCage Data Security – 718-575-LION. To find the closest drop-off location please visit www.LionCage.com\Pesach
