Computers changing hands in Sumner

SUMNER — It may be easier to get a free computer in Sumner, after town leaders have taken action to ensure that computers and monitors are more likely to be recycled than thrown away.

Town Clerk Susan Runes initiated the change, after noticing that what was being treated as trash by the town might be regarded as treasure by local residents.

During a recent meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Runes suggested that working monitors and computers be redirected from the town's Hazardous Waste building to a community Swap Shop.

"We're paying to dispose of something that works that somebody might snatch right up," said Runes.

Mary Ann Haxton, who chairs the board, agreed, noting that delicate computer equipment is likely to be ruined as soon as it is abandoned along with non-working junk.

"If you take a monitor over to the Hazardous Waste building, it's probably going to be ruined," she said.

Officials and Mary Standard of the Swap Shop agreed to establish a network of signage encouraging people to bring their working computers and computer monitors to the Swap Shop rather than the Hazardous Waste building.

According to the DEP, it is illegal to throw a computer into a regular dumpster in the state of Maine, as of July 2006. A computer and monitor set contains between five and eight pounds of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic.

Computer experts recommend taking steps to prevent data theft when donating or recycling a used computer. Free software is available online that can help to completely destroy data on a computer hard drive.

In other news, the board reviewed a plan to purchase and install an automatic standby generator at the town office.

The quote, from Abounding Electric, Incorporated, is for $11,375. All, or nearly all of that money would be reimbursed with an Emergency Management Performance Grant, some of which would be an "in kind" donation dependent on the number of volunteer hours dedicated to the program by local residents.

The matter is likely to come before voters in the budget presented at the next town meeting.