Less is More: Terrapin Trader Converts Surplus Property to Surplus Resources

Terrapin Trader: Goals and Operations

Some purchases can be made in the showroom for objects that have fixed prices. Other items are sold by bids that can be submitted in the showroom, online or by mail. More exotic objects are posted on auction websites such as eBay and labX. Though no warranties or guarantees are provided, cost-effective maintenance or repairs are made as necessary to the products before sale.

Terrapin Trader also participates in community outreach in a novel adopt-a-school program to assist needy local schools. Used equipment is offered to nominated elementary, middle and high schools across the Washington metropolitan area. Administrators and teachers from these schools are invited to visit the showroom and discuss their needs.

Terrapin Trader and the Environment

Terrapin Trader's ever-expanding electronic scrap (e-scrap) recycling program limits the flow of electronic and computing equipment to local landfills. E-scrap contains metals and other components that can become hazards to the environment and human health when dumped into a landfill. University affiliates and the public can drop off e-scrap to Terrapin Trader offices.

"You can't put e-scrap into dumpsters," says Mike Painter, manager of Terrapin Trader. "There are too many instances where people improperly dump e-scrap to landfills when there are facilities like the Terrapin Trader that can handle these materials safely."

Just as important, Painter says, it pays to recycle. Not only is recycling the right thing for society but reusing materials and reducing the amount of trash to landfills saves the university dollars.

The national surplus organization for higher education, the University Surplus Property Association (USPA), was actually created at the University of Maryland. In 1999, Painter came up with the idea that surplus managers should meet and share ideas. The University of Maryland hosted the first USPA conference, in which 14 universities participated. Now, more than 85 university surplus operations network to promote recycling to increase efficiency and help the environment.

Today, the University of Maryland is at the forefront of recycling, thanks to the Terrapin Trader. "Every year, since our establishment in 1994, our goal has been to increase our customer base," says Larry Walton, "We are especially trying to reach out to students who do not know of our existence and who are contributing recyclable and reusable material to landfills. We are also reaching out to all of the institutions within the University System of Maryland to promote the use of Terrapin Trader as their primary resource for handling surplus property."

Learn more about Terrapin Trader at: http://www.purchase.umd.edu/ttrader/index.htm. Questions can be directed to 301-405-5267.