Free Geek Arkansas

Free Geek Arkansas is based on the successful model of computer recycling and community technology training of Free Geek, Portland, Oregon. Free Geek Arkansas has been operating since 2007 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and provides a place for individuals to use the internet, learn about technology and donate used computer equipment for free. The equipment that is donated is reused, refurbished, upcycled or recycled. To avoid overhead cost and encourage reductions to the financial barrier of access to technology, all software installed on Free Geek Arkansas built computer systems is based on the completely free Linux based Ubuntu software operating system.
​ Day to day at Free Geek Arkansas you will find volunteers testing a variety of electronics from computer peripherals, motherboards, processors, memory, hard drives, power supplies, guitar amplifiers, LCD televisions, monitors, laptops, electronic signs, and many more. Besides just testing equipment we also build complete computers, both desktop and laptop. Sometimes we solder, sometimes we hammer, sometimes we saw or dremel, but most of the time we just have fun and go through whatever cool piece of gear just walked in the door. Although 'reuse' is our #1 priority, Free Geek Arkansas recycles quite a large amount of electronics. In the first half of 2014 Free Geek Arkansas recycled more than 8 tons of e-waste, diverting it from area landfills and technology graveyards overseas. 8 tons is roughly 80,500 processors, 6,100 hard drives or 800 15” LCD screens.

Mission

The primary purpose(s) of Free Geek Arkansas, FGAR, in furtherance of its charitable and educational purpose, shall be to reuse/recycle technology and provide access to computers, the internet, education and job skills in exchange for community service.Free Geek Arkansas is based on the successful model of computer recycling and community technology training of Free Geek, Portland, Oregon. Free Geek Arkansas has been operating since 2007 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and provides a place for individuals to use the internet, learn about technology and donate used computer equipment for free. The equipment that is donated is reused, refurbished, upcycled or recycled. To avoid overhead cost and encourage reductions to the financial barrier of access to technology, all software installed on Free Geek Arkansas built computer systems is based on the completely free Linux based Ubuntu software operating system.

​ Day to day at Free Geek Arkansas you will find volunteers testing a variety of electronics from computer peripherals, motherboards, processors, memory, hard drives, power supplies, guitar amplifiers, LCD televisions, monitors, laptops, electronic signs, and many more. Besides just testing equipment we also build complete computers, both desktop and laptop. Sometimes we solder, sometimes we hammer, sometimes we saw or dremel, but most of the time we just have fun and go through whatever cool piece of gear just walked in the door. Although 'reuse' is our #1 priority, Free Geek Arkansas recycles quite a large amount of electronics. In the first half of 2014 Free Geek Arkansas recycled more than 8 tons of e-waste, diverting it from area landfills and technology graveyards overseas. 8 tons is roughly 80,500 processors, 6,100 hard drives or 800 15” LCD screens.

RECYCLING & DONATION

Recycling is done using a very strict set of guidelines outlined by the Basel Action Network and destroys any information left on the hard drive using industry standard algorithms. We accept donations of computers and computer peripherals during business hours. Donations are tax deductible. Donations are accepted for free except for televisions and monitors. They are very expensive to recycle and rarely can be resold. For those reasons, we ask for a donation equal to the amount it costs us to recycle each item.
​Refurbishment: Donation and Thrift Store
Computer equipment deemed serviceable is refurbished by volunteers who are trained by more experienced volunteer mentors. In this process, new recruits are shown how to troubleshoot the many problems that can occur with computer hardware and will in the process of their training construct several computers. Refurbished items will be donated to nonprofit organizations that request equipment or resold in the Free Geek Thrift Store.
​Education
In addition to the training done by the refurbishment process, Free Geek Arkansas conducts classes on a variety of topics as the desire arrives. Currently we are running a Computer Anatomy class. Check in for slot availability.

FGAR will process donations according to the following, listed in order of priority, the highest being the first and the lowest, last.

• REUSE
• REFURBISH
• REPURPOSE
• RECYCLE