Some of you may be aware of the 3 week bins where lots of electronics stuff gets put to be picked through and picked apart for usable parts in your projects. It’s a great resource for interesting parts.
Every so often the three week bins get cleaned out by volunteers and they pack this stuff off to The Hackery. Today it was @packetbob, @lukecyca and @Majicj doing the dirty work. Thanks guys!
As per usual when going through these bins we came across some head scratchers.
For example a pair of sandals, a car hubcap, some food appliances such as a juicers, and lots of just plain garbage like cardboard and other cruft.
p.s. Yer Volunteer 3 Week Bin Cleaning committee is always looking for members to help manage the mess. Don’t be afraid to step up! Your membership will love you:-)
You guys are amazing. Thank you so much for doing this. A car hubcap? lol.
The most time consuming part is going through and throwing out the crap
that shouldn’t be in there.
Here’s a list of what the hackery accepts. It’d be good if we printed it
out and laminated and then stuck it up in a few prominent spots around the
bins. http://thehackery.ca/ewaste.html
We call them the “3 week bins” cuz in theory things we first put in the “1 week bin” and then after a week they were moved to the “2 week bin” and then after another week it was on to the “3 week bin” and then they were recycled…
This may have worked in the past but is no longer happening…
In reality the stuff is spread across all the bins, gets picked through and added to until someone gets tired of the mess and decides to clean it up…
This happens every once and awhile, at no fixed interval…
We will keep the naming as the “3 week bins” but realize that nobody is rotating the stuff and there is no fixed schedule for it’s removal…
Thank you for reading this far…
And should you be interested in the procedure for cleaning up the 3 week bins (cuz you want to be the next one to do it), it is as follows:
Get a vehicle (something on the larger side)
Arrange access to the Space (if you are not a key holder)
Line up a helper or two (its more than a 1 person job)
Find some boxes (often decent ones in the cardboard recycling bin in loading bay)
Tape up said boxes securely so they can handle weight
Go through the contents of the various bins and place contents in boxes while removing obvious junk:
Cardboard goes into recycling bin in loading bay
Wood goes into garbage bin bin in loading bay
Clothing/Shoes goes into garbage bin bin in loading bay
Loose screws/metal bits/crap goes into garbage bin bin in loading bay (Hackery doesn’t want this) What the Hackery will take is (http://thehackery.ca/ewaste.html):
Electronics
Printers
PCs
Network Stuff
They don’t want kitchen appliances/smoke alarms/refer to list above. Nor do they want tiny loose parts and garbage.
Load up the boxes in your vehicle (easiest to use the loading bay)
Sweep up around the 3 week bins and place the now empty bins back in place
Tell them you have some eWaste from the VHS and they will be happy to take it. Best to park on the North side near their loading bay doors to make for easy dropping off…
Reminder to all
Non-electronic items such as kitchen appliances or lamps can be recycled for free at the Vancouver Recycling Depot:
960 Evans Avenue
Vancouver, BC, V6A 2L2