Proper way to dispose an old system

When I computer is replaced in a branch, do the branch President have any authority on how to dispose it?. Perhaps, what's the proper way to dispose an old system.

The stake technology specialist or district technology specialist is responsible for maintaining stake/district computers. He should work with FM to recycle old computers as described in the Computer Overview article in the Meetinghouse Technology/Computer/ section of the Help Center.

Note that the computers belong to the stake, not to the ward or branch they're assigned to.

The FM group will give the technology specialist instructions on how to ship the old computer to a recycling center.

When I replaced our ward computer earlier this year, I communicated with the FM Group. They asked if I needed a box and packing material. Since I already had both, they asked me to provide the weight and dimensions of the old computer to be returned. They used that information to generate a shipping label.

I had to perform a secure wipe of the hard drive, and pack only the computer, with no peripheral devices or cables. I attached the shipping label to my box and dropped it off at a shipping drop point.

drepouille wrote: Sun Sep 18, 2022 4:00 pm When I replaced our ward computer earlier this year, I communicated with the FM Group. They asked if I needed a box and packing material. Since I already had both, they asked me to provide the weight and dimensions of the old computer to be returned. They used that information to generate a shipping label.

I had to perform a secure wipe of the hard drive, and pack only the computer, with no peripheral devices or cables. I attached the shipping label to my box and dropped it off at a shipping drop point.

Same here.

I remember last year that I had bookmarked the site that had the instructions for recycling old computers, keyboards, etc. There was a form to fill out to give the SN and the item descriptions. Those were to be sent electronically for shipping labels or at least permission to send the stuff back. There were instruction on how to do this. The hardware was to be sent to a place in Utah ( I am in Florida). We have quite a few computers, printers, monitors, keyboards, etc that have been accumulating in the Stake Clerk's office for several years. They are from clerks offices as well as FSCs. I tried tackling this roomful of technology detritus and it became overwhelming. My husband and I boxed up much of it, but not all. I wrote down the descriptions and the SNs. But I didn't transfer to the form. I have no idea if the hard drives were wiped on the computers. I assume they were as they had been there long before my acceptance of this calling. It is physically challenging for me to do this due to my age. We now have a younger more agile person called as a STS. He as been assigned with getting these recycled. I volunteered to email him the link to the site. The link is no longer working. Where can I find those instructions and the form.

For clerk computers, the current method is to wipe the hard drive and then contact FM for disposal.

I'm not sure about Family History computers. I think they want them back. I'd contact FamilySearch Center support. The plan may depend on the age of the machine.

russellhltn wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 12:28 pm For clerk computers, the current method is to wipe the hard drive and then contact FM for disposal.

The FM Group will then send you a shipping label. You only need to send the CPU. It is not necessary to send keyboards, mice, etc. I just sent three CPUs back in the same box. They went to an address at Church headquarters.

lajackson wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:40 pm It is not necessary to send keyboards, mice, etc.

How do you dispose of the keyboards and mice?

sbradshaw wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:25 am How do you dispose of the keyboards and mice?

I just create an issue in FIR and FM deals with it.

I assume they send it to electronic recycling.

sbradshaw wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:25 am

lajackson wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:40 pm It is not necessary to send keyboards, mice, etc.

How do you dispose of the keyboards and mice?

Our FM Group said to throw them away. I suppose you could give them to the local recycle place if you wished. If I fill out an FIR, our FM Group will just cancel it.

Keep in mind that local laws may require recycling.

Usually you can take small amounts to a local Best Buy.

sbradshaw wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:25 am
How do you dispose of the keyboards and mice?

If you can't give them away, donate them to Deseret Industries, Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. They are USB, so still in vogue with potential shoppers.

lajackson wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 9:03 pm

sbradshaw wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:25 am

lajackson wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 8:40 pm It is not necessary to send keyboards, mice, etc.

How do you dispose of the keyboards and mice?

Our FM Group said to throw them away. I suppose you could give them to the local recycle place if you wished. If I fill out an FIR, our FM Group will just cancel it.

I'd double check. My experience with FM is that the policy changes every year for no rhyme or reason.

I had a bunch of prepped computers. My FM Group said to throw away everything. Then someone else overhead me casually talking about how I'm prepping everything to send to a recycle center. He then said FM absolutely should not do this and made me double check with FM. Who then double checked.

They then said to just leave it in the clerk's office with a note and send an FIR. Which I did, and they picked it up.

So then I did this pickup process on a 2nd round of computers. Then they said *that* process doesn't work, so I need to go buy a big enough box, weigh it, and they will give me a shipping label.

In short, FM gave me three different methods over three years. Even when they tell you something, double check with them to make sure they know that's what it should be.

The computers and monitors are what they really want. We toss the mice and keyboards and cords so as to not clutter things up even more. Most keyboards do not get recycled anyways.

Proper process as I understand it is for the Stake Technology Specialist to:
1. Wipe the hard drive using a multi-pass disk wiping utility.
2. Box up the computers for shipment. Prepare an inventory of what you will be sending to surplus listing what is in each box.
3. Weigh and measure the dimensions of each box. Also provide an estimate on when you will be sending out the items. Don't use a box that is too large and heavy to easily lift.
4. Provide this information to your FMG rep. Not the manager but the assistant that assists the FMG manager. They will reach out and get shipping labels for each box for you. These sheets of paper will have all the address information, account number for payment, and tracking numbers for the shipment. All you need to do is tape the labels with clear tape to the boxes.
5. Drop off the boxes and you are done.

From our location in Washington State we only send Computers and power supplies. They are very interested in getting these assets off the books. Monitors are not shipped back to SLC. The computers you return will be resold so they will need everything that it came with the computer (RAM, HD, Antenna) so please don't gut it or damage it out of consideration for the vendor and future users.

By the time we need to surplus a monitor they are pretty old and not worth shipping back. They go to DI or other approved local E-Cycle Washington vendor. https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/red ... cs-e-cycle

dave.swartz wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:41 pm Proper process as I understand it is for the Stake Technology Specialist to:
1. Wipe the hard drive using a multi-pass disk wiping utility.

The latest instruction I saw was to use the Windows Reset option to wipe the drive and its contents, leaving the OS installed as if the computer were a clean, new installation.

lajackson wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2024 8:56 pm

dave.swartz wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2024 5:41 pm Proper process as I understand it is for the Stake Technology Specialist to:
1. Wipe the hard drive using a multi-pass disk wiping utility.

The latest instruction I saw was to use the Windows Reset option to wipe the drive and its contents, leaving the OS installed as if the computer were a clean, new installation.

That didn't work with the recent batch of computers I replaced. Windows reset wouldn't work as I had installed too many updates. I don't remember the exact message, but the church's instructions no longer worked as Windows removed that option.

I instead created another shredos USB thumbdrive boot, plugged that in, and cleared the drives that way.