• Whether it be an emergency repair or a prototype circuit board, having wide assortment of salvaged parts on hand, ready to grab in the middle of a project, saves the time it would take to choose to order parts from a catalog.
• A newly encouraged sense of responsibility to save perfectly reusable components from going into the landfill.
• Bringing acknowledgement and benefits to your company or facility for your efforts in implementing green strategies.

Knowing what types of components, including LEDs, that your facility most commonly uses, is the best place to start. Compile that list and create a storage system so you don’t end up with a large pile of junk instead of valuable components, ready to use. Invest in a tower or even desktop organizer with small compartments and clear drawers that can be labeled clearly. Look in your local hardware store or ask your electronic supplier, as they have great storage pieces designed specifically for this use. After reviewing the list you have made and the number of components you would like to keep on hand, it may be feasible to buy separate storage for the different component types (i.e. LED tower, resistor tower, etc)

If your facility decides to salvage through-hole IC’s, those are best left in the circuit board until you are ready to use them. Part such as diodes, LEDs, resistors and capacitors are more economical to remove and store by size or in the case of LEDs, color.

Note – Make sure trained personnel are available to do the removal. Wear all necessary protective gear, especially goggles when salvaging parts.

There are still ways to keep an assortment of spare, salvaged parts around without doing the work in-house. That option is to buy your parts from an electronics salvage dealer. You can find a list of them here.

If your department goes crazy with parts salvage, you can sell them to recycling facilities. As a matter of fact, facilities such as IMS Electronics Recycling will buy your unused boards without you first removing the parts at all. They accept almost anything including old pc boards, low-grade pcbs and even cellular pcbs. They recover not only parts but also precious metals. It’s a great way to reduce waste, be responsible and make a profit.

When beginning a salvage program at your facility, be sure to make those in charge aware of your efforts, as they may be able to get government or local concessions for being environmentally aware and instituting recycling practices. The EPA and NCER websites allow you to search both federal and local recycling programs and the benefits you can obtain from participating. Being pro-active in reducing waste and conserving our resources shows we not only care about the products we make and sell but about the environment and community around us.