Community Intersections

Also known as CommonWorks, a non-​profit providing services to developmentally-​disabled adults, we have discovered that they also have a program called Electronics Recycling Center located in the same building.
My review is for the RECYCLING part of the mission.
When we dropped off our ancient desktop PCs and DVD players, we learned from the friendly guy at the front desk that this program helps people with disabilities learn the skills they need to become productive, contributing members of the Colorado Springs community. They disassemble all the components and learn new things like how to operate basic tools, figure out how these systems are put together and taken apart, and the function of each part.
Ultimately, the program also helps the environment by keeping electronics, many with hazardous and re-​useable parts, out of the landfill by taking the end products to Blue Star Recyclers. Therefore, a fee is assessed for each electronic, but you receive a receipt for tax purposes because it counts as a donation when you go through CommonWorks.
We’ve donated twice on two separate weekends. The Center is in a dingy little gray building in an abandoned-​looking part of downtown with a tiny parking lot, and each time the place looked closed. A sign is taped on the door informing you what is accepted. However, upon knocking or yanking open the door, the guy greets us, asks us what we have, and provides a dolly on which to load the items from our car. He also shows you a list of the fees. The interior is a very basic setup with chairs and tables for each person’s workstation where they take the items apart. The non-​profit can only afford so much rent, but it was clean and we were impressed with the facility and mission.
So before going to Blue Star Recyclers, consider dropping off the electronics with theirs partners at CommonWorks first and help these guys!