UK consumers and business unnecessarily junk 12.5 million computers every year which end up in landfill, or dumped in the countryside.
Recognising increasing public concern with green issues, PC maker Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC) recently issued research figures that show the level of pollution caused by businesses and consumers that discard PCs and laptops. The manufacturer called for councils to set up dedicated IT recycling sections that could reclaim and recycle PCs before another wave of redundant computers could be chucked out by owners.
The problem could get worse soon, warned Dave Pritchard, senior technology
strategist at Fujitsu Siemens. “There are six and a half million people with
unwanted PCs in their loft or garden they are bound to chuck out soon. We’re
continually pushing to see what can be done in terms of making its products as
recyclable as
possible.”
However, one recycling charity hinted we lack the political will to do anything about the situation. Currently one on four people dumps their PCs at the local tip. Only one in ten people give their old PC to a friend or charity.
“This research shows we need concerted action to cut the dumping of PCs,” said Louise Richards, chief executive of Computer Aid. "
The WEEE legislation seems to make no difference, she said. “Producers and local authorities have a responsibility to ensure the safe environmental disposal of unwanted PCs.”
The channel could provide solutions in this area, Richards added. Reconditioning PCs would be an ideal way to learn about computers. One suggestion being considered is that resellers could set themselves up as PC recyclers, and their trainee workforce could be paid out of training budgets earmarked for retraining the unemployed.
Computer Aid recently launched an appeal for 50,000 end-of-life PCs needed for school, college and hospital projects in the developing world. “Just a fraction of the one million dumped in the countryside would allow us to meet our target within weeks,” said Richards.
Further Reading:
Specialist recycling facilities may be needed at rubbish tips to cater for disposal of IT equipment 08 Mar 2008
UK exceeds IT kit disposal target but key procedures are not up to scratch 04 Jul 2008Industry insiders claim eWaste recycling schemes are struggling and not enough is being done to promote re-use, but government insists directive remains on track 04 Jul 2008
Minister for International Development hails environmental and social benefits of IT reuse projects 24 Apr 2008
Government confirms carbon regulations will not be caught up in attempt to cut red tape 07 Aug 2008
Officials set out plans for more robust "additionality" rules 07 Aug 2008
Wave turbine hopes to provide prototype for 4MW project 07 Aug 2008
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