Agenda 12-12-23; 8-i - Computer Surplus Declaration and Donation to Triangle Ecycling

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2 Property to be donated Computer Type Qty. Avg. Age of Equipment Hard drives erased/wiped Desktops 404 6 years National Institute of Standards and Technology 800-88 Guidelines 7 pass erasing technology Laptops 160 6 years National Institute of Standards and Technology 800-88 Guidelines 7 pass erasing technology It should be noted that providing the County's surplus computers to local nonprofit organizations has also been previously discussed and pursued. However, agencies have declined interest due to the age of the computers as well as the cost to purchase operating systems since the County must remove all software and information for security purposes prior to any disposal action. The possibility of making surplus computers available to County employees has also been discussed in the past. The interest among County employees is uncertain, and it has been noted that conveying/selling the computers to employees requires a prescribed process based on State law. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Donating these computers to Triangle Ecycling will have no financial impact on the County. As these computers have had 5-7 years of use and have been deemed unsuitable for repair or further use for their intended purpose, any money recovered by selling these computers as-is would be offset by the Staff time involved in managing the sale. The computers hold considerably more value as teaching tools for local students. Computers repurposed by Triangle Ecycling trainees are given to local charities, sold locally at a discount to bridge the digital divide, or sold online to support further programming of the nonprofit. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. The donation of the County's surplus computers to Triangle Ecycling will help support its computer reuse and training program aimed at providing valuable hands-on technical training for local high school students. This training program will help to prepare students for jobs in the traditionally higher-paid field of information technology, thereby increasing their economic security. These results translate to positive outcomes related to the above Social Justice Goal. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The following Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact is applicable to this item: • ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND WASTE REDUCTION Initiate policies and programs that: 1) conserve energy; 2) reduce resource consumption; 3) increase the use of recycled and renewable resources; and 4) minimize waste stream impacts on the environment. This donation will continue to divert the County's e-waste from the landfill, while using the labor of trainees to add sufficient value to the equipment to renew its useful life, delaying the need to use new natural resources and energy in the creation of new computer equipment. Any computer equipment that cannot be refurbished or re-used for this program would be returned to Orange County Solid Waste to be responsibly recycled. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a resolution declaring items listed above as surplus and authorizing the donation of those items to Triangle Ecycling.