Dell launches new recycling and charitable donations programme for consumers, in advance of forthcoming WEEE legislation in the UK


Bracknell, 24 September 2004 - Almost half of British consumers have no idea of the legalities of throwing old computers away with the rest of the household rubbish, according to new research commissioned by DellTM and almost a tenth of British households currently risk prosecution by dumping their old computer hardware in their domestic wheelie bins.
"There is a real lack of understanding of the options open to consumers looking to dispose of their old computer hardware. Many do not know you can recycle or donate your old equipment to charity today, at no cost at all to the owner," says Pat Nathan, Dell's global Sustainable Business Director.
The survey identified that over three quarters of those questioned said they would welcome somewhere to take or send their old computers for recycling.
But as Nathan comments, "More needs to be done to raise consumer awareness of the services available, like Dell's free, simple, legal and environmentally responsible computer disposal offering."
Key research findings:
* 70% of those surveyed failed to recycle their laser toner
cartridges - the main reason being a complete lack of awareness that this is possible
* Paper is still the biggest item to be recycled by
households, accounting for 63% of all domestic recycling
* The feel-good factor is the biggest incentive to recycle.
Over half of British consumers surveyed (54%) admitted that taking their bottles, cans and newspapers to recycling bins made them feel good as they are contributing to protecting the environment
* Almost three quarters of us (72%) have never heard of the
WEEE directive
* Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they would
donate their old computer to charity, but 52% did not know this was an option available to them

Dell is launching its consumer recycling service in advance of the National Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) legislation, which seeks to ensure that electronic and electrical waste has a separate collection and that manufacturers provide responsible recycling services. It is also intended to promote reuse and recycling while raising awareness of the importance of these in regards to electronics.

Dell's new free consumer recycling and charitable donations solution Dell today launched its new recycling and charitable donations offer for consumers. Available at no cost to any consumer wishing to recycle or donate their old Dell hardware to charity, Dell's recycling service covers any computer system, monitor or printer. All Dell customers need to do is register on Dell's website (http://www.dell.co.uk/recycling), and input the hardware they would like to be recycled. The consumer is responsible for removing all personal data from their computer system, however Dell's home installation services can help if customers need assistance in transferring data to a new computer.
Dell will generally collect the hardware within five working days after the request has been made. It is then delivered to Dell's recycling partners, who provide economical and environmentally sound management of the computer hardware recycling process. For further details, please visit:
http://www.dell.co.uk/recycling <http://www.dell.co.uk/recycling> Charitable Donations Dell has also announced today a no charge charitable donations programme, in partnership with the National Cristina Foundation. The service will be available by the end of the year, to UK customers initially.
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