ACCESS Tech: IT Collection, Reuse, and Donation
Donate your used technology like computers, laptops or mobile devices to Hamiltonians in need.
McMaster students and staff work with our partner, Empowerment Squared and network agencies (Refuge: Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health, Munar Learning Centre, Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, Immigrants Working Centre, Afro Canadian Caribbean Association), to give the refurbished technology to Hamiltonians in need.
Gently used laptops, computers, and monitors are of greatest need.
Email acctech@mcmaster.ca for information about free pick up and drop off outside of event hours.
Have unused technology?
If you have unused computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones, connect with us and consider donating it to Hamiltonians in need.
Step 1: Pickup/Drop-off
Donate used computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones by emailing AccTech@mcmaster.ca to arrange a pick-up or drop-off of items on campus.
McMaster-owned and personal technology is welcome.
Step 2: Data Sanitization
Please sanitize your device (permanently erase the data) before donating items.
If you don’t know how, let us know and the ACCESS Tech team will do it for you.
Step 3: Refurbishing and Reuse
Usable devices are refurbished and readied to be given to Empowerment Squared, our community partner who shares the devices with Hamiltonians in need.
All unusable technology is either upcycled by students who use the parts of the devices, or is properly recycled.
ACCESS Tech FAQs
Examples of IT that can be donated include laptops, smartphones, computers and tablets.
While there is no limitation as to what technology you can donate, only the usable technology is shared with Hamiltonians in need. Unusable technology is either upcycled by students or properly recycled.
Mobile devices need to be factory reset and SIM-unlocked in order for them to be reused in the local community. Our team can help guide you through this process, or you can follow the instructions below:
iPhone and iPad Reset Instructions
Mobile devices that have not been factory reset will not be distributed to local community members and will be safely disposed of instead.
For laptops and computers, we encourage you to sanitize the laptop before donating it; however, ACCESS Tech can handle this task if necessary.
Sanitization, also known as data erasure or wiping, is a secure means of erasing data on magnetic media, such as hard drives in computers. Other methods, such as reformatting or directory removal, are not sufficient to securely erase data; it will still be recoverable. Our team can help ensure your laptop or computer is properly and securely sanitized before it is reused or recycled.
Empowerment Squared (ES), a local non-profit organization, refurbishes and distributes the equipment we collect and sanitize. The items donated that are deemed usable are refurbished and distributed to Hamiltonian families in need.
Unusable technology is either upcycled by students to create new projects or artwork. All leftover parts are properly recycled.
