Electronics Department

Computer maker Dell has announced that it will award $120,000 in a series of $10,000 grants to select U.S. communities, universities and other non-profit groups to conduct computer collection events in the spring of 2004.

"We want to empower communities to run their own collection events and to help educate consumers about the importance of computer reuse and recycling end-of-life options," says Dell’s sustainable business director Pat Nathan. "Single-day events are very effective in raising awareness about recycling and gathering historic computer waste, while interested parties like Dell do their part to develop a more robust national electronics-recycling infrastructure."

The grant awards will be used to organize, promote, stage and recycle computer equipment at events across the U.S. Grantees will also receive guidance from the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) and similar organizations.

Additional information and application forms can be found on-line at www.dell.com/recyclinggrant.

Dell offers consumers a home pick-up recycling option, available at www.dell.com/recycling, for $7.50 a unit, while businesses and public institutions can use Dell’s Asset Recovery Services at www.dell.com/assetrecovery.

"The most effective solutions to building our nation’s electronics recycling and reuse infrastructure will be those that incorporate shared responsibility and public-private partnerships—this pilot project is a creative step in that direction," Kate Krebs, NRC executive director, says.