Businesses not getting value from old IT equipment

Old computers can be refurbished and sold

UK businesses are pouring thousands of pounds down the drain by failing to cash in on the monetary value of old IT equipment, according to a survey by IT refurbisher Remploy e-cycle.

In the survey of 100 IT decision makers, Over 80 per cent do not get money back from old equipment despite the fact that it can be sold on.

Just 100 end-of-life computers could provide a business with revenue of £7,500 - even with the cost of refurbishing and re-marketing taken into consideration, the firm said.

Only 10 per cent of respondents said they would be more motivated to reuse or recycle old IT equipment if it would save the company money – meaning many are missing out on the value of selling old equipment.

Since the introduction of the EU’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, which aims to reduce the amount of IT waste sent to landfill, businesses have started disposing of the old equipment more responsibly by recycling it.

They are missing out on a potentially lucrative new revenue stream, said Remploy e-cycle general manager Malcolm Watson.

"While it is obviously good that businesses are heeding the WEEE Directive and recycling ICT equipment, we need to communicate to IT directors that recycling is the last resort not the first.

"Our philosophy is always refurbish, reuse and re-sell, and only dispose of a computer if it can’t easily be fixed. This is not only great for the planet but also for a business’ bottom line."

The firm argues that the key factor influencing the potential resale value of IT equipment is its age at the time of disposal.

Leading commercial organisations dispose of ICT equipment at around three years of age whereas public sector IT equipment is on average disposed of at five years of age.

In 2005-06, four fifths of public bodies disposed of IT equipment at a net cost.