Have questions about donating equipment or about our processes? See our most frequently asked questions below. For more information contact us at 612-383-2400 or email us.
The Donation Process
What happens to donated equipment?
How much does it cost to donate/recycle technology equipment?
Do you accept nonworking equipment?
Can my company host an equipment donation drive?
Why should we donate our equipment to MCFS?
What technology equipment can I donate?
Certifications and Data Security
Do we need to erase hard drives before donating them?
Will you accept computers without hard drives?
What happens to the equipment once it arrives at MCFS?
Does MCFS erase all of the personal data from donated computers?
Does MCFS provide reports for donated equipment?
Recycling
What happens to recycled materials?
What are the benefits of recycling through MCFS?
The Donation Process
What happens to donated equipment?
MCFS makes every effort to refurbish and reuse all donated equipment. The refurbished equipment is placed in schools and educational nonprofits throughout the state. Every computer placed is customized to meet a particular organization’s needs and comes with a warranty and tech support.
Because reuse is at the heart of our mission, equipment that does not meet the requirements of schools and educational nonprofits will be sold or recycled. The money raised from sales of unusable technology will allow us to purchase components so that students receive the best technology solution possible.
How much does it cost to donate/recycle technology equipment?
There is no cost to donate most types of equipment. We charge a modest fee for products containing CRT (leaded) glass, primarily monitors and TVs. Click here to view our fee schedule.
Do you accept nonworking equipment?
Yes! We will attempt to refurbish any nonworking equipment. Equipment that cannot be refurbished will be disassembled and the parts will either be used to build computers or recycled.
How can I schedule a pick up?
We are happy to pick up donations from businesses and organizations. Just give us a call at 612-383-2400 or email us.
Can I drop off my items?
Yes, no problem! Companies are welcome to make an appointment to drop off equipment donations at our warehouse in Minneapolis. Simply call 612.383.2400 to schedule a drop off time.
Can my company host an equipment donation drive?
Yes – we’d love to come to your company and host a donation drive for employees. We provide this service at no cost and it is a fun way to rally together as a team to help students in need. Click here to learn more about hosting a drive.
Why should we donate our equipment to MCFS?
Thousands of computers are replaced every single day and most of them are simply recycled. MCFS gives you the option to easily put used technology to good use in a classroom that serves students in need.
Donating is easy and free – we’ll come pick up the equipment and there is no charge associated with donating equipment. Our data security practices, certifications and licenses assure you that we are a trusted partner for secure information destruction and recycling of end-of-life electronics.
What technology equipment can I donate?
We take nearly all technology equipment. Here is a complete list of the equipment that we accept.
Certifications and Data Security
Is MCFS a licensed recycler?
Yes! Each year we undergo a detailed audit to ensure that our processes comply with strict standards. In addition to being R2, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007 certified, we are also registered with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and licensed by Washington County’s Department of Public Health and Environment to operate a Hazardous Waste Facility in the State of Minnesota.
Click here for more information on our licenses and certifications.
Do we need to erase hard drives before donating them?
No, every hard drive goes through a rigorous scrubbing process using WipeDrive Enterprise, a wiping tool that meets NIST 800-88 standards and is HIPAA and NIAP certified. The use of WipeDrive assures our donors that their computer’s operating system and all personal data will be completely removed from the drive.
Will you accept computers without hard drives?
Yes! If your company policy does not allow you to donate hard drives we will happily accept equipment without.
What happens to the equipment once it arrives at MCFS?
Your donated equipment will arrive in our secure intake area for data sanitization. Only certified employees are able to access equipment at this point. Once the equipment has been sanitized it will move on to the production floor where it will be tested and determined if it is a candidate for repair or recycle. Click here to learn more about the process.
Does MCFS erase all of the personal data from donated computers?
Every hard drive goes through a rigorous scrubbing process using WipeDrive Enterprise, a wiping tool that meets NIST 800-88 standards and is HIPAA and NIAP certified. The use of WipeDrive assures our donors that their computer’s operating system and all personal data will be completely removed from the drive.
Does MCFS provide reports for donated equipment?
Every donor will receive a donation receipt, which will detail the items included in the donation. If you require a certificate of destruction for your donated equipment, we are happy to provide one upon request.
Recycling
What happens to recycled materials?
We make every effort to reuse and refurbish donated equipment. However, when reuse isn’t an option MCFS guarantees that any equipment that cannot be refurbished is recycled. All of the recycled materials are reduced to their smallest component parts and processed domestically – we never export hazardous materials out of the country.
The money raised from sales of unusable technology will allow us to purchase components so that students receive the best technology solution possible.
What are the benefits of recycling through MCFS?
Not only is recycling with us free, simple and good for the environment, you can be assured that we processes comply with strict standards. You can learn more about our licenses and certifications here.
In addition to providing refurbished computers to schools and educational nonprofits, we also teach job skills to individuals who face a barrier to employment.
