Majority of firms still don’t recycle PCs: survey

Computer recycling charity Computer Aid has drafted a guide to help companies understand and adopt best practice in IT disposal procedures, as research was published showing the majority of firms do not recylce computers.

Computer Aid said that the guide aims to help companies meet current regulatory requirements around e-waste and improve the environmental and reputational impact of their IT disposal strategies.

The guide comes after Computer Aid and market research company Vanson Bourne conducted research into IT disposal among senior IT decision makers in UK companies with over 1,000 employees.

The research revealed key areas in need of improvement. It found that one in five senior IT decision makers are “unsure” whether their company’s unwanted PCs avoid landfill.

And more worryingly almost a fifth (17%) “don’t comply with, or don’t know about” current e-waste regulations, the survey found.

The research found that only 14% of companies reuse their redundant working IT equipment. But amongst those that don’t, 83% said they wanted to do so.

Anja French, director of communications at Computer Aid International, said, “Companies need to significantly improve their disposal procedures as failing to do so can have huge reputational as well as environmental costs. And companies are missing the opportunity to seize the environmental and social benefits which sending their unwanted IT for reuse can bring.”

The guide covers areas including data security, best practice data disposal, avoiding landfill, meeting the WEEE electronic waste directive, and best practice in computer re-use.