Turning computer waste into profit

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Consumers who return a computer or printer to the store because it doesn't work may not realize that product is later purchased by an Austin company.

That company is keeping millions of pounds of electronics from winding up in the landfill.

"If for any reason you bring it back to the person you bought it from, eventually they will end up here," said Alex Abadi, CEO of Image Microsystems.

Image Microsystems in North Austin is what you call an e-recycler. They take electronics that have been returned to a store and try to either refurbish it for resale.

Or, if that doesn't work, it winds up being taken apart piece by piece and ground up into what looks like dough. With a little heat and a mold, that printer becomes a stepping stone made from 100 percent recycled plastic.

"We have kept about 60 million pounds of e-waste from landfills or overseas dumping," said Alex.

While the company is making a big impact on the environment, they felt that wasn't enough. Some four years ago they started to hire graduates from the Texas School for the Deaf.

"It became more than a mission for us but a purpose for us to help out in our community," said Toni Abadi, director of Diversity and Community Relations.

Today, 40 percent of their employees are deaf, such as Dennis Strickrod who works in the accounting department.

"It's kind of like a deaf world here compared to other companies," said Stickrod. "They tend to have just one deaf worker, and there's many hearing people. And you feel very isolated, but here it's very different."

And some might think on an assembly line it would be difficult for the hearing employees to communicate with the deaf ones, but it works out.

"I see they are starting to finger spell, and they are gesturing with each other," said Toni. "And they figure it out, but it's not difficult for them. They enjoy it."

And they enjoy working for a company that's doing something good for the environment.

Last year, Image Microsystems received the Texas Environmental Award for their recycling efforts.