ASK-Solutions

Repair and reuse first

We repair devices whenever that is reasonable and safe. Not only laptops, but also computers, tools, phones, electronics, and workshop equipment. We also buy second-hand when it makes sense, and we sell or pass on devices we no longer need. Keeping equipment in use is often the most direct way to reduce waste and emissions: fewer new devices means less production waste, fewer shipments, and less packaging.

When something is truly beyond repair, it does not automatically become “trash”. We salvage parts, we keep useful components in stock, and we make sure the remainder goes into the right recycling stream. That is also part of a repair culture: not treating everything as disposable the moment it stops being convenient.

Waste separation and material streams

We separate waste into paper, plastics, glass, wood, metals, chemical, and mixed residual waste. That is the baseline. From there we try to prevent waste before it exists, especially in a workshop setting where offcuts and leftovers are easy to generate without noticing.

Bio-waste is the one stream we generally do not produce in any meaningful quantity. That is not because we ignore it. We cook a warm meal around lunch time each day, and we plan portions carefully. Almost no food waste is the goal, and in practice we get very close; the main exception is coffee and tea grounds.

In the workshop, offcuts of wood and sheet material go into dedicated offcut bins for smaller projects, jigs, spacers. When pieces become too small to be useful, we collect them together with sawdust and bring them to a recycler once there is enough volume to justify a trip.

Energy use and infrastructure

When we purchase equipment, we deliberately select power-efficient models, even when that increases the upfront price. We often prefer lower-power devices over raw speed, and we make infrastructure choices accordingly. For example: for servers and workstations we favour efficient platforms (such as ARM and AMD Ryzen-class systems) when the workload does not justify higher-power server-class architectures. Efficiency is a design constraint. It keeps costs down and reduces waste heat as a side effect.

We also manage power actively. Wall outlets and extension cords are switched off when they are not needed. Phones are switched off after hours. We use scripts on managed network switches to control PoE based on schedules and calendars (outside working hours, closed days, official holidays, and planned closure periods). This avoids “always on by accident” and cuts standby losses across many small devices.

Low-power building control

For lighting, presence detection, and heating setpoints we use KNX. That choice is deliberate. KNX is a wired, low-power control system, which avoids a common pattern in modern “smart” solutions: dozens of WiFi or radio-connected devices that each sit in standby and maintain their own always-on connection.

With KNX, sensors have a small and predictable power footprint. Switching is done with hardware that can be designed for minimal idle draw; for example using bi-stable relays that switch on a short pulse instead of requiring a constant holding current while a circuit remains active. That matters in practice, because the office has multiple rooms and zones, and the workshop is not a single open space either. Per-room and zone control, based on both presence sensors and timers, prevents heating and lighting energy being spent on rooms that are simply not in use.

Making and prototyping without wasting materials

Prototyping is part of how we learn and how we solve problems, but it can also generate waste if you treat every iteration like a final product. We reduce that by working in small steps, reusing materials where possible, and choosing the right level of finish for the task. Not every print needs to be pretty. Some prints only need to prove fit, clearance, or strength.

For 3D printing we reuse filament leftovers and resin leftovers for prototypes and for prints where appearance is not the priority. We match material quality to purpose. That keeps good material available for the parts that genuinely need it and reduces discard from failed or overly ambitious first attempts.

Parts, spares, and circular storage

Repair work depends on having options. That is why we keep a broad range of salvaged parts and materials in storage. It includes screws and fasteners, desktop and tower PC cases, cables, displays, switches, connectors, lamps, pulleys, belts, brackets, motors, pumps, and selected electronic components (including ISA/PCI/PCIe cards where they remain useful for legacy systems). We also store metal and wood sheets, boards, joists, and legs in our materials storage.

This is not hoarding. It is practical circularity. If we can replace a connector, mount a motor with a salvaged bracket, rebuild a small jig from offcuts, or keep a working machine alive with a part we already have, we avoid new orders, new packaging, and new shipments. And we save time.

Recycling, disposal, and combined trips

Some streams still need specialist recycling or proper disposal, including chemicals. We collect these materials and bring them to a recycler when there is enough volume to justify the trip. We also combine runs wherever possible: metals, plastics, paper, wood waste, and chemicals go in one planned visit. Fewer trips. Less fuel. More predictable handling.

If you work with us or visit the workshop, you will notice that most of this is not a separate “policy layer”. It is a routine. Separate materials, keep storage usable, repair first, and plan ahead so waste does not happen by default.