Government Surplus Items Keep On Working

Almost $900,000 was returned to the provincial treasury in 2006-07 through the province's annual disposal of surplus Crown property.

The province's Surplus Crown Property Disposal Report was tabled today, Dec. 3, in the legislature. It outlines how surplus materials were disposed of during the 2006-07 fiscal year.

"Most of the items on this list have been very well used," said Murray Scott, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "But even after things wear out and standards change, we do our best to make sure that nothing useful goes to waste."

The Computers for Schools Program, a partnership that keeps older computers working, is the main beneficiary. Through this program hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of used computer equipment continues to be put to use. The province is the second largest donor to the program.

The list of donated equipment includes 1,570 computers, 1,397 keyboards, 1,262 monitors, 469 printers, and 587 computer mice. The equipment will be refurbished and put into schools throughout Nova Scotia.

"Instead of ending up in landfills, these computers are continuing to be useful," said Mr. Scott. "These machines may no longer be suitable for critical government functions but they will be of great value in a school environment."

In addition, a wide range of additional surplus equipment such as chairs, tables, desks, and filing cabinets are donated by request to non-profit and community groups.

Among the less common items donated were ornamental plants (to the Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building, QEII Health Sciences Centre), a lawn tractor and a robotic arm. There were 108 organizations that received items.

Along with detailing the above donations the report also outlines the $898,065.08 in net revenue raised by surplus sales. Below raised by gross surplus sales:

• $485,878.37 in the sale of surplus land was also the largest revenue generator
• $472,715 through the department's auction of heavy equipment
• $64,506.21 through the auctions of other surplus equipment

All profits are used to help reduce pay down the provincial debt.

Surplus items are distributed under the authority of the Surplus Crown Property Disposal Act. The 10 categories of surplus items listed in the report are:

• disposed real property (i.e. land and/or buildings)
• VHF asset disposal initiative
• items sold at public auction
• heavy equipment sold at public auction
• items sold through public tender
• items donated to non-profit, non-government agencies
• material sent for recycling
• computer equipment for the Computer for Schools program
• scrap waste
• surplus equipment used in school renovations and construction

The full report is available on the Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal website at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/govservices/govIC.asp .