Dell is helping businesses become environmentally friendly by recycling their IT equipment.
The service, led by the IT hardware specialists, is a response to the new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation, which is to be introduced in 2005.
The legislation, which will come into effect on 13 August 2005, will make it illegal to inappropriately dispose of IT equipment while ignoring treatment centres which have been introduced to effectively recycle office hardware.
Through the new Dell Recycling Programme, customers can recycle their used equipment via the Dell website with no extra cost with a new purchase.
The company has also agreed to recycle Dell branded equipment without the need for an added purchase.
The Environment Agency has stated that at least one million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste from domestic and commercial sources is discarded in the UK every year.
With this in mind Dell seeks to help consumers meet the stipulations of the WEEE directive as well as help businesses become more conscious about the amount of waste they produce.
Pat Nathan, Dell’s global sustainable business director, said: “Our survey shows that awareness among both businesses and consumers of how to responsibly retire used computers is very low.
“Our UK programme will be a key element in helping us meet our global goal of increasing recovery of used computer products by 50 per cent over the amount collected in Dell’s fiscal year 2004, which ended on 30 January 2004.”
Coming into effect at the end of the year, Dell will also introduce a service that will allow firms to donate old equipment to charity
Nathan said, “The new UK programme will help one persons unwanted kit into a life expanding tool for those who have not previously had the benefit of such computer technology.”
