HP, Dell go green

TIN MAKERS HP and Dell have announced programmes to help US consumers recycle old kit. HP is providing a free in-store electronics recycling programme in which consumers can drop off any brand of unwanted electronics at any Office Depot store. It will then be taken away by HP and it will then do something useful with it.

Dell said it would pick up old computers belonging to US consumers who purchase its desktop or notebook computers and recycle them.

The two biggest PC manufacturers are under increasing pressure to do more to recycle their products which contain lead, mercury and other toxic chemicals that could be harmful if dumped in landfills.

While the move is seen as something in the right direction, both initiatives are temporary and have more than a whiff of spin. Nevertheless, HP has a better record on environmental initiatives than Dell.

PC manufacturers fear that governments around the world could force them to carry out re-cycling programs - something they think would be too expensive. Cynics would say that HP and Dell hope that the government will leave them alone if they sign up to voluntary programmes which can be switched on and off as the PR need requires. µ

See Also
Dell damned, slammed for exposing prisoners to toxic hazards
WEEE legislation to catch IT vendors short
Computer vendors slammed over toxic waste
HP goes cuckoo making elephant dung, toner cartridge clocks