Dell, Goodwill Launch Recycling Service in Michigan

The pilot program offers consumers across the state free drop-off recycling and reuse options for unwanted computers and gives them the opportunity to support a local charity.

The launch of this program follows a recent decision by the Michigan Department of Information Technology to have Dell manage asset-retirement services for state-owned computer equipment. That program is also available to local governments, schools and other non-profits statewide.

“RECONNECT Michigan uses the donations infrastructure of a nonprofit and the experience and recycling resources of a technology company to offer a proactive, community-based solution designed for environmentally responsible computer disposal,” according to a release from Dell. The partnership's goal is to divert at least 3.3 million pounds of used computers and computer equipment from landfills during one year and to provide education on the importance of proper computer disposal, while also creating job opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers throughout Michigan.

Beginning Oct. 13, residents across Michigan can call toll free, (866) 48-REUSE or visit www.reconnectpartnership.com to learn about drop-off options for unwanted computers and computer equipment at Goodwill locations.

"Michigan consumers are both community-minded and environmentally conscious, so this public-private program makes great sense," Teri Takai, chief information officer for the state of Michigan, says. "This effort will help create shared solutions to the challenges of electronics disposal and make our state a safer, healthier place to live."

Goodwill Industries of Central Texas and Goodwill Industries of San Francisco have partnered with Dell on similar pilot programs. Success of these pilots has prompted Dell and Goodwill to implement a regional version of the program across Michigan.

The 11 Goodwill members of the Goodwill Association of Michigan will accept donations of residential computer equipment of any brand. Goodwill will collect, sort and consolidate the unwanted computers, separating equipment with resale value, which will be entered into Dell's Asset Recovery Services value-recovery processes. Proceeds from equipment recovery will be returned to the Goodwill Association of Michigan for re-investment in a variety of job-creation and other community programs. Electronic Partners Corp. (ePC) will recycle equipment without resale value according to Dell’s guidelines. ePC is a part of Chasm Industries, a firm that specializes in electronic asset management and recycling services.

Consumers are responsible for removing data from their hard drives and other storage media before making their donation; neither Dell nor Goodwill takes any responsibility for that data.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Goodwill to bring convenient computer recycling to consumers across Michigan and further Goodwill's mission of job creation at the same time," says Susanne Fredericks, executive director of the Goodwill Association of Michigan. "Partnership with Dell will help us ensure we are implementing environmentally sound practices for unwanted computer equipment to Michigan while creating job opportunities for the individuals we serve."