Financial Affairs

SALVAGE PROGRAM FAQ

Salvage Program

What types of equipment does the Salvage Program take?
The Salvage Program takes equipment that is generally of value or may contain private, sensitive or confidential data. Such items include computers, printers, monitors, cell phones, AV equipment, furniture, vehicles, artwork, etc. Small office supplies such as binders, staplers, etc. do not need to go through the salvage program.

Where is the Asset Disposal form?
The Asset Disposal form can be found on the Procurement website under the Salvage link.  Please use the following link the take you directly to the form:  http://procurement.universitysalvage.com/salvageform/

How long does it take from the form until items are moved out?
Usually within 2-3 days Procurement will place a work order placed with Facility Operations and pickup will occur shortly thereafter.  Larger pickups may need additional time due to space constraints and cost. 

What happens once the equipment is salvaged?
After a form is submitted, the equipment will be transferred to Procurement Services. Some larger furniture items will be redistributed or disposed of directly from the requesting area.  Once items are received, Procurement will evaluate the equipment and determine if it can be put up for sale in the Salvage Store or disposed of through our authorized recycler.

Why are serial numbers required?
Serial numbers give us a unique identification number to track movement and disposal of salvaged equipment.  Most equipment, especially technology related items, will have a serial number associated with a particular asset.   Once the equipment makes its way to Procurement Services, we verify we have received all the equipment listed on the Asset Disposal form.  If something is missing, we will contact the department to determine if it was not sent or lost in transit.  The serial number is also used to track the items disposed via our authorized recycler or sold via the Salvage Store.

What does the authorized recycler do with items sent to it?
Procurement Services works closely with a recycling company, who takes items that are not sold via the Salvage Store. This company ensures that any data is securely erased or destroyed and then determines the best method of recycling. This may include donation, resell or stripping the items down to their raw materials for use in other products.

Can a department donate old equipment to a charity?
In rare cases, Procurement Services will donate salvaged items to a non-profit charity.  Donations are evaluated on a case by case basis and are not guaranteed.  If you are interested in donating old equipment, please submit as Asset Disposal form and email Procurement Services at procurement@depaul.edu.

Can I salvage equipment that I personally own?
At this time Procurement Services does not have enough space or resources to effectively manage personal salvage.    For more information on recycle programs in the Chicago area please visit the Chicago Recycling Coalition website:  www.chicagorecycling.org.

What is the University policy on the Salvage Program?
You can find the Disposal of Equipment and Assets policy online at http://policies.depaul.edu/policy/policy.aspx?pid=27

Salvage Sales

Why doesn't my department get any of the money from a sale?
Most salvage items sell for fairly low amounts – under $200, with most being even less then that.  Once you factor in the costs of moving, data wiping, inspecting, selling, salaries, etc., the salvage program is run at a loss for the university.  Additionally, the accounting for making numerous small dollar budget transfers would be very time consuming and labor intensive.

Where does the money from sales go?
The salvage DeptID is a university-wide account, where the funds cannot be touched without approval by the EVP.  Revenue for this account is budgeted during the annual SRAC process and is factored into the university's total revenue/expense calculations.

Can individuals purchase salvaged equipment?
Much of the equipment received through the Asset Disposal Program can be purchased through the Salvage Store, which is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public..

What if I want to buy items for my DePaul office?
Items sold in the store are for personal use only – they are not of a quality that DePaul would use them for business use. 

I want to purchase something for myself, can I do that?
The item will need to be salvaged for review first.  Mark on the form that you are interested in buying it and if we determine it will be sold, we will notify you once it has been posted to the store.

What about technical support for PCs?
If you need help with a PC you purchased form the Salvage Store, you can try the Help Desk.  Unfortunately, Procurement Services does not have the ability to help troubleshoot these computers.  If you need a new operating system or other software, there are a couple of vendors on the discounts site that sell them.

Where can I find more information about the Salvage Store?
Visit these links for more information:

Toner Recycling

Can a department dispose of used toner?
Procurement Services maintains relationships with vendors who pay for used printer toner and ink cartridges.   As a result of this recycling, DePaul University receives funds for the toner and ink recycled.

To participate in this program, simply follow these steps:

  1. Place your used cartridge in the container that your new cartridge arrived in
  2. Interoffice it to "Distribution Services - Loop Campus"

Procurement Services receives a check for all returned cartridges about once a month totaling about $1,000-$2,000 per year.  These funds are then put into the general scholarship fund with students reaping 100% of the benefits.