Earlier this year, I had to switch over to a new computer because the old one I had been using for a number of years just didn't have enough memory for my needs. It seemed to take a perverse delight in flashing me the message, "not enough virtual memory" every time I tried to do something with it.

Once the new machine was up and running I was faced with the dilemma of what to do with the old computer. Luckily, the computer technician who was helping me suggested I donate it to the Computers for Schools program.

To be honest, I had never really heard much about this program, but thought I would give it a try because anything would be better then throwing more electronic waste into the dump.

So, I gave them a call and then took my computer to their office and workshop, which is located downtown in the same building as Break-Away Fitness. I found it ironic that upstairs was a business dedicated to keeping your body from going to the dump, while downstairs was a group trying to keep your computer from ending up in a dump.

It is always interesting visiting a place where people enjoy their work and where they are recycling things before they get trashed. After all, one of the best ways to keep things out of the dump is to divert them into a recycling program before they get mixed in with the garbage.

Amrik Kanwal, who runs the program, was kind enough to show me around and explain how it all works. Computers for Schools NWT is a federally-funded program, and part of Yellowknife's Smart Growth Initiative.

Basically they collect old computers and equipment donated by groups, the federal or territorial government, from companies like Rio Tinto or from individuals. The program salvages what it can, refurnishes the computers and give them to schools and non-profit organizations across the North.

When I was there, a bunch of computers were all ready to go - headed to Inuvik and Ulukhaktuk and delivered by the RCMP. So the computers come from a number of sources and then they go to places across the NWT and Western Nunavut and are delivered by any means possible. It is good to see so many groups and individuals all helping out with a common cause.

What a great idea to reuse these old machines. They may not be state of the art machines with all the bells and whistles to play the latest Internet games, but they are fine for the basic computing that schools, libraries, social services and non-profit organizations need to do and they are also fine for teaching students and seniors the basics. Since 2004 the program has recycled and sent out over 4,000 computers.

Now, not all the equipment it receives is useful so the stuff Computers for Schools have stripped down and can't use goes as electronic waste down to Edmonton. There, most of it is torn about for recycling. So this group has not only salvaged computers it sent out, but it has diverted over 50 tons of e-waste from going into our dump and e-waste can be nasty and toxic stuff.

The program also hires and trains students in computer work, maintenance and repairs. So students who are into computers, but who get a little bored with traditional school, can get some practical and hands-on experience. It is a training ground for our future generation of computer experts and who knows someone like Bill Gates or Steve Jobs (the founders of Microsoft and Apple) may emerge from a program like this.

Computer for Schools is the type of program we need to help us deal with this computer age and the associated e-waste it produces.

Alberta has already banned e-waste from its dumps and you are going to hear a lot more about it in the years to come. So check out Computer for Schools NWT on their website.

• Walt Humphries is a well-known Yellowknife artist and prospector