Dell, EPA to Host Earth Day Computer Recycling Drive

Dell and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host an Earth Day computer recycling event for consumers in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area on April 22. The free event will take place at Freedom Plaza downtown.

“We cannot think of a better day or more appropriate place to partner with consumers and make a difference for the environment,” says Joe Strathmann, Dell senior manager of asset recovery services. “Through public-private partnerships and initiatives, we are sending a clear message that no computer should go to waste.”

Residents are advised to remove all data from hard drives and any removable media, such as disks, PC cards, flash drives and CD-ROMs before dropping the equipment off between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m..

“This event provides D.C.-area residents an easy opportunity to recycle unwanted computers and helps protect the environment,” says Moll O’Neill, assistant administrator and chief information officer for the EPA’s Office of Environmental Information. “Dell’s commitment to corporate citizenship sets an example for other businesses to follow.

The event is also sponsored by the National Recycling Coalition and TechTurn, which will processes the equipment dropped off during the event.

Since 2003, Dell has partnered with several community-based organizations to support or host similar events in markets including Paris, FrancSydney. Australia, New York City, Nashville, Tenn., and Oklahoma City, Okla.

Dell completed a rollout of its global recycling program in December 2006.

The company has a goal to recover 275 million pounds of product from customers by 2009.