Computer maker expands recycling efforts 1

PC giant Dell today continues its campaign to be the world’s greenest technology company by rolling out a pair of new recycling programs.

The company is adding six states to its partnership with Goodwill Industries that lets customers drop off unwanted electronic devices for recycling at Goodwill retail stories. The network of 1,100-some collection points in 18 states accepts gear of any brand, as long as it’s an item Dell manufactures (computers and printers, for example, but not TVs). Reconnectpartnership.com has a list of dropoff locations.

“Today we’re making it even easier for environmentally-conscious customers to do the right thing,” Mike Watson, senior manager of Dell Global Recycling Services, said in a prepared statement. “Every technology provider has a responsibility to provide free, easy and responsible recycling to consumers worldwide. We hope 2009 is the year that brings the industry together around this shared principle.”

Before settling on the Goodwill partnership, Dell conducted extensive surveys to find a recycling plan that customers would be likely to use, Watson said. “They just believed intrinsically that there’s some remaining value in their product, and they didn’t want Dell to get that value, they wanted a nonprofit like Goodwill to get it,” he said.

The company also launched Dell Exchange, an online trade-in system that allows U.S. customers to exchange unwanted electronics for Dell gift cards. The site estimates what your item is worth, then offers a gift card value and a printable shipping label. The trade-in service, launched as a pilot program last fall is now available to U.S. customers at www.dell.com/tradein.

Dell also announced that it reached its goal to recycle 275 million pounds of equipment nearly a year ahead of schedule. The company has been a leader in IT recycling initiatives and aims to lead the industry into greener practices.

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