What laws are there in New York concerning taking garbage from a state entity?

Question

I guess it seems like a weird question, but I go to a SUNY school and found at (through my Comp Sci teacher) that, come the end of the spring semester, the school is closing down the computer labs.

I personally could have cared less, but what caught my attention was when he said they're going to outright dispose of the computers. Not recycle them, not donate them to charity/schools, they're going to throw them in the garbage (as they've aparently been doing for quite some time).

I find this outrageous for two reasons: the impact those computers will make on the environment by sitting in a dump; and the idea of just throwing away fairly new, working computers (we're talking Apple G5 towers and 2 year old Dell Optiplexes). So, I was hoping to "rescue" a few of these computers come the end of the semester.

Just one concern: what are the laws surrounding this kind of thing, taking garbage from a state entity?

Answer 1

Once garbage, no matter the source, is on public property, it is fair game. However, if the garbage in on campus property, it is still the property of the school. I would ask for permission before taking anything. There might be some campus rules pertaining to it.

Thanks Bullwinkle

Answer 2

FRANKFUSS is correct. Here's an idea... Go to/email the president of SUNY, and explain the situation in 25 words of less. Say you want to rescue the computers as part of a community service project. Push gently for a quick response, and then start making some phone calls. You might become the recipient of a LOT of computers. Good Luck.