Disposing of ICT equipment

Recycling computers

Equipment that is beyond its useful life for one organisation may be of use to someone else. Computers can be refurbished and passed on to schools, other charities or individuals, both in the UK and abroad.

Some organisations that recycle computers have a minimum specification that they will pass on and some will only collect a minimum number of units. Some will ask for a donation or charge a fee and others only accept equipment that is working, as they have to pay to dispose of anything that can’t be used.

Ask in your local networks to see whether there is a community-based recycling project in your area. Ask your local council, or have a look on websites such as www.donateapc.org.uk, www.wasteonline.org.uk (information sheets), or www.envocare.co.uk/computers.htm for contacts and advice.

Throwing it away

In the end, hardware will fail. Screens become difficult to use and cause eye strain, busy printers or CD drives begin to fail and parts may be difficult to repair.

It’s time to throw it away, but most ICT equipment contains harmful or toxic elements and is not safe to be thrown into a skip.The European Union’s WEEE Directive is changing the face of recycling by enforcing the safe disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

This is creating incentives to reuse and repair equipment as well as creating a market for disposal companies: a Google search for ‘ICT disposal UK’ reveals hundreds of businesses offering ICT disposal services, most referring to theWEEE Directive. Use your existing networks to find out who can safely dispose of ICT waste in your area, or look online.

Your local council may provide advice or accept individual PCs at its own facilities.Any local environmental and recycling projects should be aware of the WEEE Directive and be able to advise – they may even have their own disposal service.

Visit www.weeeman.org to learn about the environmental impact of disposing of waste electronic and electrical equipment.You can also calculate your own current carbon footprint and find out how to minimise its impact.

Green Computing Charter

You can commit yourself to some basic standards by signing up to the Green Computing campaign on the Computing Magazine website:

• Ensure unused equipment is turned off when it is not being used.
• Educate staff about the benefits of saving energy and recycling.
• Establish a code of practice designed to minimise unnecessary printing.
• Identify ICT management practices that reduce power consumption.
• When purchasing new ICT equipment, choose energy-saving devices that have been manufactured in an environmentally conscious fashion.
• Dispose of old hardware responsibly; send old PCs to be reconditioned and recycled.
• Find out how much energy your ICT systems use and monitor ongoing consumption levels. Computing Magazine at www.computing.co.uk