ell launches new recycling programme for businesses, in advance of forthcoming WEEE legislation in the UK


Bracknell, 24 September 2004 - Nearly a third of British businesses throw old IT hardware away, according to new research commissioned by DellTM.
Whilst nearly a quarter of companies are aware of the environmental and legal consequences of disposing of old computer hardware incorrectly, they are reluctant to change their practices right now. The research coincides with the launch of Dell's new recycling programme for its UK business
customers, Dell Asset Recovery Services (ARS).
"With growing concern about the environmental impact of old computers and other electronic products, it's of great importance for corporations such as Dell to inform and heighten the awareness of available recycling programmes.
There does seem to be an education gap - over a quarter of businesses surveyed who do not recycle said they do not know where to go," said Pat Nathan, Dell's global Sustainable Business Director.

Key research findings
* Key drivers for recycling:
o Government legislation is likely to be a key
driver in making it easier for companies to implement a recycling programme, according to 46% of British businesses
o However, a significant number also pointed
to greater awareness within their own organisation (27%) and Government education on the benefits of recycling (29%) as key factors to encourage them to recycle more
* Disposal decisions:
o When deciding how to dispose of computer
hardware, only 11% of UK businesses felt that reducing or eliminating their environmental liability was important
* Becoming WEEE Compliant
o The survey found that over a third of
British businesses are still unaware of the new Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive for pan-European recovery and recycling
o And, 92% of those with responsibility for
disposing of business computer hardware, do not know that the WEEE Directive is to become operational in 2005

Dell's recycling solution - ahead of National WEEE legislation The WEEE Directive seeks to ensure that electrical and electronic waste has a separate collection and that manufacturers provide responsible recycling services. Dell's Asset Recovery Services, for desktops, notebooks, servers, storage, networking, monitors, printers, projectors and computer peripherals, is designed to provide those services - now.
"The new recycling programme we are launching today, under Dell Asset Recovery Services, gives our UK business customers the chance to recycle or resell old computer equipment in a simple and environmentally responsible way, that can help decrease costs, increase savings and meet their legal requirements," said Nathan.

Dell Asset Recovery Services comprises two main solutions:
1. Value Recovery - Dell ARS will arrange the packing, shipping and testing of any surplus computer equipment for any UK business. If it meets functional and cosmetic requirements, it is resold using the customers'
chosen method. Value from the sale is then returned to the customer.
2. Recycling - Equipment that has no resale value (generally equipment that is over three years old or under a certain specification) is collected and delivered to Dell's recycling partners, who provide environmentally sound management of the computer hardware recycling process.
For further details on both programmes, please visit:
http://www.dell.co.uk/recycling