Reconnect computer recycling program expanded

Dell and Goodwill Industries have added Virginia to the list of States offering their “Reconnect” drop-off program for the recycling of unwanted computers. The program aims to divert over 2.7 million pounds of used computers and computer equipment from area landfills over the next year; and provide consumer education on the importance of environmentally-responsible computer disposal.

Goodwill will accept and sort the donated computer equipment and Dell's product recovery partner will recycle and remarket the recycled materials.

Unwanted computers can be dropped of at one of 134 Goodwill donation centers across Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metro area. A receipt can be issued by Goodwill at time of donation and consumers are responsible for removing data from hard drives and other storage media before donating.

Reconnect programs currently exist in with 567 drop-off locations available across Texas, California, New York State, Ohio, the State of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Users can log onto the Reconnect website to find a nearby location. In 2007 Dell collected 102 million pounds of IT equipment from customers, a 20 percent increase over 2006.

Earlier this month Gizmag reported that Samsung had launched its recycling program for consumer electronics.