Dell Initiates Grant Program

"These events are intended to keep reusable and recyclable equipment out of landfills while raising awareness of responsible product end-of-life options," Pat Nathan, Dell's sustainable business director, says.

These initial grant awards will be used to organize, promote, stage and recycle computer equipment at events across the U.S. Grantees will receive guidance from organizations like the National Recycling Coalition to aid in the success of their events.

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

"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," Nathan says. "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."

Dell currently offers consumers a home pick-up recycling option (www.dell.com/recycling) for $7.50 a unit. Business and public institution customers can benefit from Dell's Asset Recovery Services(www.dell.com/assetrecovery). Both programs provide reuse and donation options.

"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, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition, says.

The grant program evolved from Dell's National Recycling Tour that collected about 2 million pounds of unwanted computer equipment and has reached over 40 million consumers with the message that "No Computer Should Go To Waste." Dell will continue to conduct its own one-day collection events in 2004, and remains a partner in the Environmental Protection Agency's Resource Conservation Challenge education program, "Plug-In To eCycling."