Dell Calls Out PC Makers On Recycling, Releases Sustainability Report

Jul 19 2007

Dell says it’s ahead of schedule to achieve a multi-year goal of recovering 275 million pounds of computer equipment by 2009. Dell reported the recovery of more than 78 million pounds (nearly 40,000 tons) of unwanted IT equipment from customers in 2006, a 93 percent increase over 2005 and 12.4 percent of the equipment it sold seven years earlier, more than any other manufacturer that reports recovery progress by past sales weight, according to Dell’s 2007 sustainability report, released today.

Earlier this month, HP announced that it had met its goal of recycling 1 billion pounds of electronics. HP says that in 2006, it recovered 187 million pounds of electronics globally.

“Protecting the environment is too important an issue for one company to be leading alone,” said Michael Dell. “Customers should not be forced into improper disposal due to a lack of environmentally responsible options. To that end, we are renewing our challenge to every computer manufacturer, regardless of size or location, to join us in offering a free, global consumer recycling program. It is the right thing for our customers and the earth we share.”

Dell says it is the only computer manufacturer to offer consumers no-charge recycling services for its own branded computer equipment worldwide without requiring new product purchases.