​On behalf of the Tech-Takeback team, big thanks to all those Brighton & Hove residents who generously donated 1.7 tonnes of unwanted tech during TTB3 (28th September to 1st October 2018, The Level Community Rooms, Brighton).
Calling all University Students, Staff and Brighton & Hove Residents:
·       Are you busy searching for Black Friday and Cyber Monday bargains?
·       Do you need space to store your Christmas shopping?
·       Are you anticipating Father Christmas bringing you new tech over the festive period or January sales bargains?
If so, Tech-Takeback can help you make space and feel good at the same time.
Tech-Takeback is delighted to be holding TTB4 at the Students’ Union at the University of Sussex on Thursday, 22nd November (10:00 to 18:00) and Friday, 23rd November 2018 (10:00 to 17:00). 
The month of November, especially Black Friday (23rd November 2018) and Cyber Monday (26th November) is one of the busiest times in the consumer purchasing calendar and is particularly popular with Millennials and Generation Xers.  It is regarded as a good time to snap up a tech bargain.  Did you know that in 2017, the top selling Black Friday items were smart and mobile phones? On Black Friday in 2017, £1.4 billion was spent on on-line sales in the UK (this was up 11.7% on 2016, see the IMRG report). 
With all these new purchases, we increase the stash of mobile phones and old unwanted tech that we store in our drawers and lofts! 
The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) reported in 2015 that the electronics market generated around 41m tonnes of e-waste a year, of which 60-90% was illegally traded or dumped.  Due to the hazardous elements contained in tech, this poses a threat to the environment and to human health.  As a result, consumers need to be aware of the impact on the environment – this is where Tech-Takeback aims to play its part in easing the burden. 
Tech-Takeback offers residents (including students) the chance to reduce their environmental footprint by donating their unwanted tech (in broken or working condition) to Tech-Takeback, with all data-bearing items being erased of data using a government compliant data-wiping service (a free service for Brighton & Hove residents and students).  This provides you with confidence that your personal data will be securely erased, whilst enabling the item to have a second life through reuse, or if the item really is pronounced unusable, Tech-Takeback ensures responsible recycling, and where possible, re-use of key components or safe destruction. 
Various charities have benefited from receiving your old unwanted tech for reuse, repair and upcycling including the Sussex Homeless Support Charity, the Green Centre, The National Tech4Good Awards, The Bevy Community Pub, Artists at Boomtown Festival, Brighton Pride HQ, Screwed Sculptures and the "Little Trees" Skills Training Centre in The Gambia.
Whether it is your first time visiting Tech-Takeback or whether you are a repeat visitor, we look forward to welcoming you all at TTB4.  You do not have to pre-register before visiting but you do need to ensure that you copied any data from the devices that you are donating to us because when we erase it, we will not be able to get that data back.  On arrival at TTB4, we just need you to register using our on-line check-in screen (taking only a couple of minutes). 
Examples of tech (broken or in working condition) to bring to TTB4 include PCs, tablets, laptops, hard drives, memory cards, USBs and USB connected devices, CDs and DVDs, mobile phones, smart phones, games consoles, printers, digital cameras, sat navs and cables.

Why should you and your family spare the time to bring your old tech to TTB3?

Are you tired of being told to tidy up your bedroom at the weekend? 
Do you want to do something good for the environment and for the local community instead? 
Do you or your family have any unwanted tech (eg laptops, tablets, PCs, games consoles, smart/ mobile phones, memory sticks, printers etc) taking up space in your drawers and cupboards?
Did you know:

• Electronic waste contains plastics, precious metals and hazardous chemicals – to avoid polluting the environment, particularly the oceans, they must be reused and recycled responsibly
• Tech-Takeback accept unwanted tech (working, broken or unknown condition) and all data-bearing items are securely data-wiped and then:
  • if possible, the item is given a second-life to be reused by local charities and those who would otherwise not be able to afford tech (the digitally deprived)
  • if the item really is at the end of its life, Tech-Takeback arrange for it to be responsibly recycled or destroyed – the components will be responsibly dismantled and reused.
• Come and see the live demonstrations – you will be amazed at what can be done with a little imagination and some reclaimed plastics!
• Have a laugh at the size of the phones and PCs that your parents used to carry around!
• Chat to tech and environmental experts – get some great facts for your next school project and impress your teachers.

Please come and see us at anytime between 28th Sept and 1st Oct 10am-6pm inclusive.
We look forward to welcoming you and your family.

Huge thanks to all of you who donated your old tech during the first Tech-Takeback pop-up shop event from 24th November to 3rd December 2017.  Your support was amazing – over 400 residents visited the shop to enquire or to donate unwanted tech enabling 1.44 tonnes to be collected.

For TTB2 held between 13th and 21st January you flooded us with tech, a massive 560 of you came throuh the pop-up and deposited 2.78 tonnes of old tech for data erase, reuse and recycling...Thank you

Thanks also to Brighton & Hove City Council for their great partnership with the Tech-Takeback team.
 
The event highlighted the value that residents place on their personal data and the need for a secure data erasure service for data-bearing items.  We are now working through the “triage” process, sorting your old items into those which can be given a second life, or if necessary, recycled or securely destroyed.

We really enjoyed talking to you all and were impressed by your love of the old tech items on display.  We had no idea we would be given 1970s phones and 1980s record players – now we know you share our interest in the history of technology, we will pay homage to old tech at our next Tech-Takeback pop-up shop event in January 2018.
 
Please keep an eye on our website and social media in the coming weeks, as we will be sharing news on who has benefited from your unwanted tech as well as letting you know where we are popping up in January.