Free Geek Vancouver

Free Geek Vancouver was registered in on December 6, 2006. We started with a small number of volunteers who strongly believed in the social and environmental good of reusing and recycling unwanted computers, and have grown to an organization with 14 employees and over hundreds of new volunteers every year. We are one of several autonomous Free Geek organizations located throughout the world. Our mission and principles were modeled after the original Free Geek which founded in Portland, OR in 2000. We provide a place for people to share technology in a way that is environmentally sensitive and socially progressive. We believe in transparency, accountability, and sustainability. We dispose of equipment in an ethical and environmentally responsible manner. We're a reuse and recycling centre, and a large part of our mission is environmental. Reuse is the most desirable fate for old electronics. Finding a new home for an existing piece of technology generally requires less energy and produces fewer pollutants than any method of recycling. Recycling regionally and ethically is the next-best choice for old electronics. We recycle as locally as possible to minimize transportation, and so that we can build relationships with recyclers and have confidence in their methods. We aim to recycle in British Columbia where possible, but will otherwise use Canadian and American recyclers. Mission Statement :Free Geek Vancouver is a registered non-profit (#S51527) community organization that reduces the environmental impact of waste electronics by reusing and recycling donated technology. Through community engagement we provide education, job skills training, Internet access and free or low cost computers to the public.