DANEnet: Back-To-School Tech Recycling Event helps close the digital divide

Madison, WI – DANEnet, a local nonprofit that provides tech support and digital equity services to other nonprofits, is hosting a special Back-To-School Tech Recycling Event.

As families buy new devices for the school year, many end up with old ones they no longer use. DANEnet is teaming up with Cascade Asset Management to collect old computers, tablets, phones, and other devices in a safe and secure way.

  • When: Friday, August 22 from 8:00am-1:00pm
  • Where: Warner Park parking lot (enter from N. Sherman Ave.)
  • Who: Open to all Dane County residents

“More than 14,000 households in Dane County don’t have a working computer at home,” said DANEnet Executive Director Shawn Steen. “That makes it harder for people to apply for jobs, go to school, or use online healthcare. This event is a small but important step toward fixing that.” 

All collected technology gets securely wiped and recycled or reused to support DANEnet’s Digital Equity Project, which partners with dozens of local nonprofits to provide free refurbished laptops, tech support, and basic computer skills instruction to qualifying program participants from households that are low-income. The goal of this program is to connect Dane County residents and families on the other side of the digital divide with better jobs, educational success, remote healthcare, and other important resources that can help them thrive.

Items being collected (whether working or not):

  • Personal computers
  • Laptops
  • Monitors
  • TVs
  • Smartwatches
  • Tablets
  • Cellphones

We will not accept:

  • Appliances
  • Medical equipment
  • Business equipment (copiers, fax machines, etc)

This event collects only personal devices from Dane County residents. Businesses can recycle their equipment directly through Cascade Asset Management and indicate DANEnet as the beneficiary.

To learn more about the work DANEnet does, visit www.danenet.org.