Bracknell, 24 September 2004 - DellTM has today launched its UK recycling programme for all businesses and consumers, almost a year ahead of when the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation comes into force. The service will be complemented by a new computer donations initiative, enabling customers to donate used computer equipment to charity.
Through the new Dell Recycling programme, consumers will be able to recycle any used computer system, monitor or printer through the Dell website at no cost with a new purchase. Dell will also accept back Dell branded computer hardware from consumers who wish to recycle through the same service without a purchase. All the customer has to do is log on to the Dell website and enter their details to arrange the free collection, directly from their home.
For businesses, Dell offers Dell Asset Recovery Services (ARS) which allows business customers to recycle or re-sell redundant computer equipment. This covers all computer products including desktops, notebooks, servers, storage, networking, monitors, printers, projectors and computer peripherals.
Both services are available across the UK for used computer equipment. For further details, please visit: http://www.dell.co.uk/recycling <http://www.dell.co.uk/recycling>.
"At least one million tonnes of electrical and electronic waste from domestic and commercial sources is discarded in the UK every year, according to the Environment Agency, and it's estimated this is growing by 4 - 8 per cent a year, " said Pat Nathan, Dell's global Sustainable Business Director.
"Our survey shows that awareness among both businesses and consumers of how to responsibly retire used computers is very low. We have therefore set ourselves aggressive targets to increase recycling in the UK in an effort to make computer recycling easy and affordable for all. 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."

Dell charitable donations offering launched today
Dell has also announced today a new charitable donations programme, in partnership with the National Cristina Foundation and ReCOM, which is also provided at no cost to customers. The service will be available by the end of the year, to UK consumer customers initially. Consumers will be able to donate their used systems by selecting the 'donate' option within Dell's Recycling website. They will then be transferred to the National Cristina Foundation's UK partner, ReCOM, who will arrange the donation (http://www.recom.org.uk <http://www.recom.org.uk>). ReCOM will place donated computers with partner charities who are initially located in the West Midlands and soon throughout the UK.
"Dell has been working with the National Cristina Foundation in the U.S., Canada and Ireland to offer consumers the ability to donate old computer hardware to worthy causes," continued Nathan. "The new UK programme will mirror these initiatives, helping convert one person's unwanted kit into a life expanding tool for those who have not previously had the benefit of such computer technology."
Dr. Carol Wood, ReCOM's Chairman, said: "Technology which no longer meets a customer's need can greatly assist a charity which may not be able to afford new technology. We encourage all consumers to consider donation when they retire computers rather than storing them in their homes. We are thrilled to join with Dell in this important effort in the UK and to join the worldwide network the National Cristina Foundation is building."
Nathan confirmed: "The drive behind the UK recycling and donations programme has been Dell's global environment policy that "No Computer Should Go to Waste", a campaign which aims to provide all Dell customers and owners of computer technology with responsible ways to reuse and recycle at the end of a product's useful life." Details on Dell's environment policies can be found at http://www.dell.com/environment <http://www.dell.com/environment>
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