Combatting E-waste and Forced Obsolescence with Open-Dource Operating Systems Wyatt Berne, Marjandy Vizcarra Project Mentor(s): Susan Rivera, PhD E-Waste has become a major sustainability issue worldwide. With the recent discontinuation of software updates and security patches for Microsoft's Windows 10 and Apple’s MacOS Ventura operating systems, hundreds of millions of computers lost official software support and are now more vulnerable to malware. In most cases, these software support cutoffs are completely artificial, imposed by manufacturers. They are policies, not hardware limitations. From a technical standpoint, many “obsolete” computers are capable of running the current operating systems and programs used in education. In addition, obsolete computers are often improperly disposed of once their software support ends. This produces unnecessary waste and overlooks the remaining service life these computers still offer. This pilot project demonstrates that obsolete computers can have their service life extended through refurbishment and the use of Linux operating systems or Open Core Legacy Patcher. Doing this reduces waste and helps students. Over the course of this project, ten decommissioned devices were collected, repaired, and reconfigured to run either current Linux distributions or current MacOS versions through OCLP, enabling secure and efficient performance. These devices were then made available to students who lack reliable access to personal devices, supporting both waste reduction and digital equity on campus. The project also lays groundwork for a potential student-led repair club, ideally supported Surveying Student Interest in Sustainably Sourced Goods at CWU Autumn Graff Project Mentor(s): Susan Rivera, PhD; Imani McClain; Angela Johnson; Thomas Clark With increasing awareness of sustainability and its importance, students are often looking to practice more sustainable purchasing that aligns better with their values. Worldwide, data shows that 40% of consumers are willing to pay 5% more for eco-friendly products. Of students surveyed in the US, 71% say that it is important that their school supplies are eco-friendly or sustainable. CWU students continue this trend, indicating interest in affordable eco-friendly products but sometimes lack resources or transport to realize the purchase. The Wildcat shop at Central Washington University’s Ellensburg campus expressed interest in understanding which sustainable products students would purchase. The bookstore experimented with items, such as sweatshirts and laundry pods, with limited sales success. To better understand how to bridge the disconnect between the expressed desire for sustainable products and low sales, a brief survey was developed and implemented to determine whether students are even aware of these products as well as what kinds of products they would like to purchase sustainably. By creating a survey that gauged the interests of the student body, the student store can now source and provide practical sustainable products that benefit both students and the bookstore. The outcomes of this project will allow the store to, in future seasons, purchase and sell items that will fulfill the needs of the students and be beneficial to the campus economy. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (May 21, 9:30am–3:00pm) Keywords: Survey, Sustainability, Purchasing SOURCE Form ID: 239 through SLICE, to institutionalize ongoing repair and reuse efforts. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (May 21, 9:30am–3:00pm) Keywords: E-waste, Planned Obsolescence, Sustainability, Refurbishment SOURCE Form ID: 260
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