| Recycling is the buzz word of the 21st Century, | | | | equipment. They will also ensure that all |
| with everyone eager to prove their green | | | | information held on the computer memory is |
| credentials and help cut carbon emissions. And | | | | permanently wiped from the hard disks and will |
| when it comes to disposing of old or redundant | | | | provide an audit report showing exactly what has |
| computers it is no different; whether you run a | | | | happened to your equipment; how it has been |
| business or you have equipment at home it's all | | | | processed and where it has gone. So, whether it |
| about computer recycling! But, it's much more | | | | has been recycled and sent out to other locations |
| than ensuring that you look to be doing the right | | | | or totally destroyed it will be listed on your audit |
| thing; refurbishing and recycling computers forms | | | | report. |
| a very important part of a sustainable waste | | | | If you do not want to use a commercial |
| strategy. It is also an effective way of ensuring | | | | company for your computer disposal organisations |
| that computers are re-used in a socially | | | | such as Oxfam will collect unwanted but working |
| responsible manner within the UK or used to aid | | | | computers from businesses in Great Britain. They |
| Third World development as they can also be | | | | refurbish the machines and sell them on using the |
| exported to countries in need. | | | | profits to support their charity work. However, |
| Following the introduction of the WEEE (Waste | | | | you must make sure that you delete all your |
| Electrical and Electronic Equipment) EEC Directive | | | | sensitive information before releasing the |
| which became effective in the UK on 2 January | | | | machines, and you won't get a full audit report, |
| 2007, the disposal of computers is now strictly | | | | but you will have done your bit for the third world! |
| regulated. Disposing of old computers also makes | | | | Although the WEEE regulations became law on 1 |
| good business sense. Most computer recycling | | | | January 2007, the phasing of the legislation means |
| firms will pick up your old equipment for free, if | | | | that recycling of household goods will not be |
| you are replacing it or it was sold to you after 13 | | | | covered until 1 July 2007. But, businesses are now |
| August 2005 and/or you are replacing it with new | | | | liable so you must be aware of the regulations as |
| equivalent equipment. You will have to pay for | | | | they affect your business and your liability when it |
| disposal if the equipment you are disposing of is | | | | comes to the disposal of your computer and |
| not to be replaced. There are also other | | | | electrical equipment. |
| occasions when you must pay for disposal, if in | | | | It is up to you to ensure that your business |
| doubt you should contact a reputable computer | | | | recycles computers in an environmentally friendly |
| disposal company who will be able to advise you | | | | way, whether through a commercial organisation |
| of your legal obligations. | | | | or through a charitable donation. Either way you |
| As well as giving sound advice the computer | | | | will be helping do your bit to make this world a |
| disposal company can arrange to remove your | | | | greener and better place. |