ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Business of IT / IT Strategy

Dell readies PC recycling programme

By Jonathan Skillings, CNET News, 17 May, 2002 10:50

Daily Newsletters

Sign up to ZDNet UK's daily newsletter.

Topics

Dell, lead, hazardous waste, computer recyling, cathode ray tube, E-waste, dumping, PC, Green, CRT

NEWS
Dell Computer is getting set to announce a programme to offer PC recycling to consumers. Details of the programme are being finalised and will be made public within the next day or two, company spokesman Bryant Hilton said on Thursday. Under similar programmes from other manufacturers, consumers pay a fee to the PC manufacturer to dispose of old equipment. The recycling programme would join existing options for Dell customers looking to unload old PCs. Through its DellExchange system, set up in December 2000, consumers can trade in old computers or monitors regardless of the brand, sell the equipment via auction, or donate it to a not-for-profit organisation. Dell also offers recycling to corporate customers through its asset recovery services. Still, a recycling programme for consumers would be a big step for Dell. The Texas-based computer maker is the No. 2 seller of PCs in the world, right behind the new HP, but it is growing at a rapid rate. HP, however, has seen market declines recently and is in the middle of consolidating operations with recently acquired Compaq. For that reason, environmentalists and others have been looking to the company to get more in tune with growing calls for PC recycling. Activists are worried about overflowing landfills and the threat of toxic leakage from what has become known as "e-waste." To date, Dell has yet to formally join in discussions on the topic with the National Electronic Product Stewardship Initiative, or NEPSI. That group, whose members include representatives from manufacturers, recyclers, retailers, government agencies and environmental groups, is working toward establishing a US-based infrastructure for collecting, reusing and recycling electronics. The head of one NEPSI member group even suggested that if Dell didn't find a way to fit itself into an industry-backed, self-regulated system, electronics makers might find themselves more likely to be compelled by legislation. "Everybody seems to be very freaked out about Dell," said Ted Smith, executive director of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. Dell's lack of participation, Smith said, is "a major focus of contention" as the group looks to see "if there are ways to bring them to the table in a serious manner or whether they're going to try to stay outside of this whole thing." Electronics recycling laws are already in effect or under consideration in Japan and the European Union. In the United States, the focus has primarily been on CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors, which contain several pounds of lead, one of the elements considered to pose a serious health threat if improperly disposed of. Massachusetts and California have banned CRTs from landfills, and the California state senate is considering a pair of bills that would require retailers to collect a fee for every CRT sold. Consumers already face some optional expenses related to recycling, and may before too long find them unavoidable. IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Best Buy, for example, charge a fee to people who elect to dispose of PCs, monitors and other devices through their recycling programmes. Meanwhile, the NEPSI talks are pointed toward incorporating the cost of recycling in new PCs, computer peripherals and TV sets. Dell's shareholders may get a chance to weigh in on the matter. Mutual fund company Calvert has proposed a shareholder resolution on e-waste to be voted on at the company's annual meeting in July. The proposal seeks for the company to take greater responsibility for disposing of "junked computers" through take-back and recycling programs. Failure to address the potential hazards of e-waste creates risks and liabilities that could hurt shareholders, Calvert says. But Dell has a chance to keep that vote off the shareholder ballot, depending on the outcome of negotiations with Calvert. The PC maker would need to show that it can produce a feasibility study that would satisfy Calvert's requirements, according to Julie Frieder, environmental analyst for the mutual fund company. "They've been very receptive and responsive," Frieder said. "If we can withdraw (the proposal), we think that's successful." The companies should know by the end of next week whether the vote will take place, she said. "We're pleased that they're taking steps to address the problem of e-waste and improve recycling programmes," Frieder said. "They're such a big company and can have a big influence." Hilton acknowledges that the company is in talks with Calvert -- "we're finding we have common interests, common goals" -- but says that the resolution isn't the reason for Dell's move toward recycling for consumers. "It's something that customers have been looking for, and it's the right thing to do," he said. Calvert's proposal has already appeared before shareholders at HP and at Gateway. At HP's annual meeting last month, it received 8 percent of the vote, or 92.5 million shares, and at Gateway's general meeting Thursday, it received 7.5 percent, the fund company said. Dell recycling programme plans were first reported in the Austin Business Journal.
See the Hardware News Section for the latest update on everything from MP3 players and PDAs to supercomputing. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet news forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Related stories

Old PCs go to jail

Finding gold in dot-bombs' idle software

PC buyers may pay for recycling

Heart of England NHS begins massive digitisation plan

Hard-drive woes hit PC shipments in fourth quarter

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Freebies202

Duplicate comments are not made intentionally. Its very good to know that now you are keeping check on this problem because sometimes a commenter...

6 hours ago by Freebies202 on Microsoft fixes blog comments, speeds up blogs with open source
kevinmchapman

"the very significant number of users" and "many (most) of us" - you have no evidence for these statements. It is a fact that most users are saying...

14 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Marg Menzies Harrison

Another grammar faux pas is the improper use of "you". When sitting down down in a restaurant, for example, I get cringe when the waitress...

15 hours ago by Marg Menzies Harrison via Facebook on 10 flagrant grammar mistakes that make you look stupid
zdnetukuser

And NOW, folks, for Canonical's next trick... Kubuntu is late. Here's a pencil. Draw your own conclusions. cf.:...

16 hours ago by zdnetukuser on Linux Minterface
Moley

@kevinmchapman. The discussion here reflects the very significant number of users who really do like the traditional menu system and who wish to...

18 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

Er, no... It is an efficient means of finding the application/file/setting you need in one place. The icons are a simply a fallback for when you...

19 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

Isn't the provision of a text based search an admission by the developers that the mass of icons approach does not work? I don't need to use a...

21 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

"Unity and GNOME 3 both abandon the old text-based cascading menus in favour of a graphical icon-driven system." Point truly missed. Both use a...

21 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

whs001 - Thank you, I'm glad you liked the article. I absolutely agree with you on your first point. I should perhaps have made it clearer that...

21 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Dennis Nilsson

If we allow corporate interest to dictate the way our government circumvents due process against foreign entities then we should accept the same...

22 hours ago by Dennis Nilsson via Facebook on ACTA stumbles in Germany
GHar123

I totally dislike pirating of works, I fear that artists will be deterred from creating works if they think that they are going to get ripped off....

1 day ago by GHar123 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
JCB33

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

1 day ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
Moley

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

1 day ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
greycynic

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

1 day ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity
GrueMaster

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

1 day ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Frederick Wrigley

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

1 day ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
bdantas

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

1 day ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

1 day ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

1 day ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Moley

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

2 days ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Latest in IT Strategy

Heart of England NHS begins massive digitisation plan

Hard-drive woes hit PC shipments in fourth quarter

Featured white papers

CIO challenges: Bringing your iPad to work

Aruba Networks

CIO challenges: Bringing your iPad to work

The arrival of personal technology in the office is a challenge for all organisations, but how can it be adapted securely for corporate... Read more

The Relevance of Cloud Infrastructure to Enterprise Challenges

SAVVIS

The Relevance of Cloud Infrastructure to Enterprise Challenges

This white paper reviews the evolution of data center outsourcing, and introduces cloud offerings within this historical... Read more

Graphene: A guide to the future from ZDNet UK

ZDNet UK

Graphene: A guide to the future from ZDNet UK

What is graphene? How is graphene made? And why isn't a graphite pencil worth thousands of pounds? Explore this strange material with ZDNet UK's guide to... Read more

Inside ZDNet UK

A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

2012 Predictions: VCE FastPath, VI SAN Probe & Hadoop

2012 Predictions: VCE FastPath, VI SAN Probe & Hadoop

BlackBerry Bold 9790

BlackBerry Bold 9790

How to handle data replication

How to handle data replication

Ten factors that make Ubuntu 11.10 a hit

Ten factors that make Ubuntu 11.10 a hit

Toshiba Portégé Z830-10P Review

Toshiba Portégé Z830-10P Review

BT's archive: Pictures from the vault

BT's archive: Pictures from the vault