As a State agency, the CSU as a whole and each CSU campus is required to maintain a valid accounting of all property acquired using state and other related resources. The Property Control Office is part of the office of the Vice President Business and Finance. Property Control is responsible for maintaining a physical inventory, tagging University and Auxiliary property, maintaining accurate inventory records, adding financial data to the property system asset records, and picking up and disposing surplus property.
Computers and computer peripherals represent the largest amount of surplus property. When a department acquires new computers, the old computers are removed, stored, transferred, etc. Tracking this movement so that they can be reutilized and/or accounted for has proven to be difficult. In order to remedy that problem, OIT and the Property Control Office have developed a process to assist departments and to better control the location and disposition of surplus computer equipment. This new process puts the responsibility on OIT to determine if a computer can be reutilized or if it is to be disposed of as “junk”. This new process will also allow for better record keeping regarding the location of all computer equipment on campus
What is E-Waste?
Electronic waste, or “e-waste” refers to any unwanted electronic device or Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), and in California, e-waste is considered a universal waste which is a type of hazardous waste. E-waste frequently contains hazardous materials, predominantly lead and mercury, and is produced by households, businesses, governments, and industries.
Typical e-waste devices include, but are not limited to:
- Old CRT tube televisions
- LCD, OLED, and plasma televisions
- LCD monitors, smart displays, and tablets
- Laptops with LCD monitors
- OLED desktop monitors, laptops, and tablets
- Computers, computer monitors, and printers
- VCRs
- Portable DVD players with video screens
- Cell phones and telephones
- Radios
Although they can be handled under more relaxed standards, e-wastes still contain hazardous materials and must be taken to a designated handler or recycler—e-wastes may not be disposed of with other solid wastes.
If you are not authorized, you cannot smash or destroy e-wastes as this could expose you to hazardous dust and debris when doing so. Because of these hazards, activities such as smashing e-waste in places such as rage rooms is illegal in California.
Any piece of equipment that is designated with a property tag should follow these steps:
- When a computer is no longer needed, the department to which the equipment is assigned (custodian) must prepare a Property Transfer form located on the Property Management webpage. The form must state that the computer is no longer needed and is to be disposed of. Departments are not authorized to dispose of equipment.
- Property Management will then schedule pick up of the computer.
- This removes the custodial responsibility for the computer from the department, and transfers it to the university.
OIT will make the determination as to whether the computer can be reconfigured for reutilization. If so OIT will become the custodian of that property and will transfer it to the appropriate new custodian when it is reassigned. If not, the equipment will be readied for disposal in an appropriate and environmentally friendly way.
Custodians of equipment with no property tag should complete a Capital Planning and Facilities Management work order to arrange for pick-up. Once picked-up, CPFM will take equipment to the E-Waste disposal bin and dispose of in an appropriate and environmentally friendly way.
For items with property tags, follow the above procedures for completing paperwork. Contact Michael Tablett for pick-up and proper disposal.
For items without property tags, contact Michael Tablett for pick-up.
Updated: January 29, 2024