Dell Creates Program to Educate Consumers on Recycling

Dell and the National Recycling Coalition announced an alliance to educate school, municipal and non-profit officials on best practices for the reuse and recycling of computers.

The program is designed to raise awareness of computer disposal issues and help consumers empty closets of unwanted equipment. This pilot training program begins Oct. 10, at Stanford University, followed on Saturday, Oct. 11, by a hands-on collection event that attendees of the training session will manage. Residents of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties can take advantage of the free recycling day on Oct. 11 at Stanford.

This recycling education program follows a 15-city National Dell Recycling Tour, which collected nearly two million pounds of used computer equipment this spring and summer.

"We fully recognize that one-time recycling events are not a long-term solution to the electronic waste issue," said Pat Nathan, sustainable business director for Dell, "but they are a highly-effective awareness tool that allows us to educate consumers about the importance of recycling and computer end-of-life options. Through ongoing public/private partnerships like our partnership with the National Recycling Coalition, organizations can leverage their competencies, sharing the responsibility for computer waste management while a more long-term and sustainable national infrastructure matures."

Dell and the NRC have developed a best-practices guide as part of the partnership. This outreach tool kit for recycling coordinators will be used at the two-day training pilot program at Stanford. It covers topics such as selecting donation partners, estimating participation, training volunteers and event promotion. Attendees will also have the opportunity to improve the guide by contributing to its contents before it is made available to others on a national scale.