E-Waste Drives / Collection Event Thread

A little background on what I do first:

I own a computer refurbishing business and am looking to expand in E-Waste. I look for systems that I can refurbish and resell, but I'll take almost anything. I work with two local schools, and get in a lot of good stuff.

Competition: To the north in Billings, MT there are two E-Waste handlers (and another place that does everything). One just opened about a year ago with a sign on the Interstate that says "Free Electronics Recycling". They run some drives and have a couple of bins in Northern Wyoming. I've seen the bins- they get nothing but CRTs and TVs. Anything good will be taken. Heck, I've been green-lighted to take stuff from the bins... and have done so. I'm sure that other people also do this. I prefer drives to collection bins for this reason.

The other place is the one that I focus on. They charge $.30/pound to schools/businesses, but do a lot of free drives (At least 15-20 drives in Montana) and offer free recycling to the people who live in the county. Their warehouse is always full. I've only been there a couple of times. They do some reselling, but they're prices are all over the place. Some are reasonable, and some are crazy.



I'm looking to do free collection drives. I see a few "tourist" type towns, full of people that are hip, green, and have to have the latest stuff. A couple of towns offer E-Waste handling at their recycling centers with a suggested $25 donation. I think a free drive will draw people out. I want to push the refurbishing message, so they'll feel good about their computers living on. I do want to charge for CRTs, though. I really don't want them, but for a fee, I'll take them.

I need a location, so my thought is to work with a church. I've found one a couple of miles out of town that will let us use the parking lot. I wish they were in town, but it is what it is.

Being my first time, I'm looking for any help. Promotional Materials, how to advertise, what works and what doesn't, and pretty much anything else. What are your thoughts and ideas?

Thanks for the help!