In the rolling hills of New London, New Hampshire, Colby-Sawyer College has long been committed to sustainability. But when it came to responsibly recycling aging technology equipment, finding the right partner proved challenging—until the college discovered give IT. get IT.
We sat down with David Levine, Desktop Technology Specialist and Help Desk professional at Colby-Sawyer, to learn about the institution’s journey to responsible e-waste recycling and why its partnership with give IT. get IT (give IT. get IT.) has been such a success.
The Search for a Local Solution
Like many institutions, Colby-Sawyer generates a steady stream of technology ready for recycling. “I did a Google search for e-waste recyclers in New England and found give IT. get IT.,” Levine explains. “My goal was to find a recycler as close as possible to our campus.”
After vetting several candidates, give IT. get IT stood out. “The closer I looked, the better it felt,” he says.
A History of Responsible Recycling
Colby-Sawyer’s commitment to responsible technology disposal isn’t new. “We’d been fortunate enough to have had free recycling for many years,” Levine notes. In the early 2000s, the college worked with a private school in Vermont that repurposed old computers. Later, the institution partnered with a one-person company from southern New Hampshire, which eventually sold to a veteran-run operation in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
But as those relationships evolved, the college needed a reliable, professional partner that aligned with its sustainability values.
A Seamless Process
Working with give IT. get IT proved straightforward from the start. “Working with give IT. get IT. was no more difficult than our prior vendors,” Levine says. The process is simple: the college sends photos of its electronics closets to give an idea of the load size, schedules a pickup day, and receives advance notice before the team arrives.
“The give IT. get IT. team was very responsive and helpful,” Levine adds. “They provided a schedule of charges for the various items to be picked up.”
The Human Element: Meet Cecil
While efficiency matters, it’s often the people behind the service that make the biggest impression. For Colby-Sawyer, that person is Cecil.
During the college’s first pickup in 2024, give IT. get IT. sent two team members with a large truck and sturdy plywood carts. The second pickup this year featured just Cecil Myrie—and that’s when something special happened.
“Cecil Myrie is such an interesting and personable fellow, I was quite happy to help him with the entire loading process, which took a couple of hours,” Levine recalls with obvious fondness. “And then there is Cecil. He’s just plain great.”
Transparency and Accountability
Beyond the excellent service, Colby-Sawyer appreciates give IT. get IT’s transparency. “It was also a pleasant surprise to get the report from last year’s load, with a very detailed listing of all the items, and an accounting of what items had some value to offset the pickup charges,” Levine shares.
This level of detail matters to an institution committed to sustainability. “The prompt responsiveness to my emails is always nice,” he adds.
Sustainability in Action
For Colby-Sawyer, technology recycling isn’t just about clearing out storage closets—it’s about living the institution’s values. “We’ve had a sustainability orientation for many years,” Levine explains. “We use our tech longer than many institutions, so when we’re ready to recycle it, it’s nearly obsolete, even if still usable.”
The partnership with give IT. get IT aligns perfectly with this philosophy. “Having every single item evaluated for reuse or recycling is the goal, plain and simple. Our sustainability values are met.”
The Impact: More Than Just Empty Closets
The environmental impact is clear, but there’s also a psychological benefit to the partnership. “It’s a great comfort to see our ‘junk’ closets get cleared out, knowing that the reusable things actually have a chance of getting reused!” Levine says.
This peace of mind extends beyond the campus. Levine was so impressed with give IT. get IT.’s service that he reached out to the local public school district’s technology director to share the recommendation. “I didn’t hear back from them, but that’s okay,” he says with characteristic good humor.
A Partnership Worth Investing In
When asked if he’d recommend give IT. get IT to other colleges or organizations, Levine doesn’t hesitate: “Absolutely yes!”
And about the future? “As mentioned, it’s a great comfort to know that give IT. get IT. is responsibly dealing with our old equipment. It’s worth the money.”
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Colby-Sawyer College, founded in 1837, offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts, social and natural sciences, and nursing, as well as graduate and professional programs in business, exercise science, social work, and nursing. Vocational exploration and experiential learning prepare students to thrive and make a positive impact in an interdependent world. The picturesque, 200-acre campus in New London, New Hampshire, is surrounded by mountains and lakes.
give IT. get IT – give IT. get IT is a New England-based e-waste recycling company committed to responsible technology disposal through reuse and refurbishment, helping organizations meet their sustainability goals while giving equipment a second life.
Learn more about opportunities to recycle your business, college, or corporate tech at give IT. get IT
