Double apologies from me - one, I just realized I commented on a comment and should have put this in the main thread, and two, I'm late to weigh in. For full disclosure - I work on environment issues at Dell.
There were lots of good thoughts raised in different comment threads and I thought I'd respond to all at once:
1. We're providing both recycling for used Dell-branded equipment for no charge (no purchase necessary) AND recycling of any brand of used computer with the purchase of a new Dell.
2. We absolutely support reuse -we have a donation program in place in several countries that matches donation of a used computer from customer to a non-profit in that customer's community
3. We absolutely prohibit the export of electronic waste by our recyclers -that was a good comment raised here about exports to China, etc. -- we use third-party audits to make sure our suppliers live up to this standard
4. Re the directives in Europe - there are actually two - WEEE which deals with recycling and which our recycling program goes beyond requirements of the directive and ROHS which deals wiht the substances that cannot be used in electronics -- we're putting those standards in place globally and have been more agressive on some substances than what ROHS requires.
Again -sorry to put this in two places but there was a lot of good discussion raised in the threads and thought I'd respond to it all at once - any questions about our enviroment programs or policies just let me know. Thanks
Hi everyone - I work on environment issues at Dell - with apologies for weighing in late to this discussion thought I would respond to a few things raised in the comments here.
First - some quick clarification on Dell's recycling programs. We will recycle and brand of used computer or printer with the purchase of a new Dell computer or printer for no-charge -- we've had that in place in the US since 2004 and it includes home pick-up. We will also now recycle any Dell-branded used equipment for no charge regardless of if you are purchasing another computer - that turned on Friday in the US.
Also - I think there was some good discussion around reuse here - we absolutely support re-use - we have a donation program in place in several countries that matches donation of used equipment from a customer to a non-profit in that customer's community - we work with the National Cristina Foundation on this (www.cristina.org )
Second - a very good question was raised in one of the comments about if the product we recover is shipped overseas and the answer is absolutely not. We prohibit our recyclers from exporting or landfilling electronic waste and we enforce this with third-party audits. The issue of the environmental and human impacts of product that is shipped to developing nations is very real and one we want to make sure we are not contributing to.
And third - also some great comments raised on what is happening in Europe - and wanted to share some clarification. There are two directives in the EU -- WEEE, which deals with recycling, and ROHS which deals with design. The ROHS directive deals with the substances that cannot be used in electronics - Dell is complying and will put this standard in worldwide (we also have more agressive programs to eliminate BFRs than the directive calls for). the WEEE directive is being implemented by EU member states and Dell is not only complying but going much beyond many of the national laws with our recycling services and began offering recycling before any EU state implemented the WEEE directive.
Sorry to put such a long post out there for my first one but saw a lot of good things in the comment threads and wanted to share all of that. Any questions about our programs just let me know. thanks
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Double apologies from me - one, I just realized I commented on a comment and should have put this in the main thread, and two, I'm late to weigh in. For full disclosure - I work on environment issues at Dell. There were lots of good thoughts raised in different comment threads and I thought I'd respond to all at once: 1. We're providing both recycling for used Dell-branded equipment for no charge (no purchase necessary) AND recycling of any brand of used computer with the purchase of a new Dell. 2. We absolutely support reuse -we have a donation program in place in several countries that matches donation of a used computer from customer to a non-profit in that customer's community 3. We absolutely prohibit the export of electronic waste by our recyclers -that was a good comment raised here about exports to China, etc. -- we use third-party audits to make sure our suppliers live up to this standard 4. Re the directives in Europe - there are actually two - WEEE which deals with recycling and which our recycling program goes beyond requirements of the directive and ROHS which deals wiht the substances that cannot be used in electronics -- we're putting those standards in place globally and have been more agressive on some substances than what ROHS requires. Again -sorry to put this in two places but there was a lot of good discussion raised in the threads and thought I'd respond to it all at once - any questions about our enviroment programs or policies just let me know. Thanks
Hi everyone - I work on environment issues at Dell - with apologies for weighing in late to this discussion thought I would respond to a few things raised in the comments here. First - some quick clarification on Dell's recycling programs. We will recycle and brand of used computer or printer with the purchase of a new Dell computer or printer for no-charge -- we've had that in place in the US since 2004 and it includes home pick-up. We will also now recycle any Dell-branded used equipment for no charge regardless of if you are purchasing another computer - that turned on Friday in the US. Also - I think there was some good discussion around reuse here - we absolutely support re-use - we have a donation program in place in several countries that matches donation of used equipment from a customer to a non-profit in that customer's community - we work with the National Cristina Foundation on this (www.cristina.org ) Second - a very good question was raised in one of the comments about if the product we recover is shipped overseas and the answer is absolutely not. We prohibit our recyclers from exporting or landfilling electronic waste and we enforce this with third-party audits. The issue of the environmental and human impacts of product that is shipped to developing nations is very real and one we want to make sure we are not contributing to. And third - also some great comments raised on what is happening in Europe - and wanted to share some clarification. There are two directives in the EU -- WEEE, which deals with recycling, and ROHS which deals with design. The ROHS directive deals with the substances that cannot be used in electronics - Dell is complying and will put this standard in worldwide (we also have more agressive programs to eliminate BFRs than the directive calls for). the WEEE directive is being implemented by EU member states and Dell is not only complying but going much beyond many of the national laws with our recycling services and began offering recycling before any EU state implemented the WEEE directive. Sorry to put such a long post out there for my first one but saw a lot of good things in the comment threads and wanted to share all of that. Any questions about our programs just let me know. thanks