Dell & EPA Sign Agreement Encouraging Improved Electronic Recycling

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Dell
has long been recognized as a leader in recycling computer equipment at the end
of its useful life. We continue to make it easier for customers to be green and
keep unwanted materials out of landfills to preserve our planet. Today, Dell
takes that commitment another step further. Dell and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are
collaborating to further promote responsible recycling and are encouraging
electronics manufacturers to use certified third-party recyclers.

This
morning at the site of Round2, one of
Dell’s certified recyclers, Dell CEO Michael Dell signed an agreement with EPA
Administrator Lisa Jackson to further promote producer responsibility and
encourage business organizations and consumers to take the right steps in
responsibly recycling end-of-life computer equipment. The Dell and EPA
agreement comes in conjunction with a national strategy for electronics
stewardship, encouraging designing electronics that are easily recyclable and
environmentally friendly. Michael Dell used this morning’s event to strongly
encourage the electronics industry to take on more. Said Michael, “We
encourage everyone in our industry to commit to easier, more responsible
recycling as we all work to protect our planet.”

Through
the release of today’s EPA report, the federal government says it will:

  • enhance
    the development of more efficient and sustainable electronic products;
  • direct
    federal agencies to buy, use, reuse and recycle their electronics responsibly;
  • support
    recycling options and systems for American consumers; and,
  • Strengthen
    the US’ role in the international electronics stewardship arena. 

Dell
is pleased to help encourage the thoughtful development of processes that can
help protect the planet. From designing,
building, shipping and recycling, our goal is to deliver the highest quality
and energy efficient products with the least impact on the environment.

While
there is more to be done with Dell’s recycling efforts, our strategy is
working. Recently we announced that the company recycled more than 150 million
pounds of end-of-life
computer equipment last year. And since 2004,
when our Dell
Reconnect
partnership began with Goodwill, we now have recycled 190
million pounds through that program. We are well on our way to reaching our
goal of recycling 1 billion pounds of end of life computer equipment by 2014.
With families and students buying computers for back to school and
organizations refreshing their computing environments, there’s not a better time
to learn how to responsibly recycle end-of-life equipment and take action. To learn more
about Dell’s recycling programs, visit www.dell.com/recycling

About the Author: Mike Watson

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