IBM promotes recycling scheme

The launch by IBM of a 'pay-as-you-go' recycling programme for PCs has highlighted the growing cost of getting rid of redundant equipment.

No longer can companies assume that brokers will happily buy their old computers, and that anything left over can be skipped. The falling value of second-hand equipment is due in part to oversupply following year 2000 PC upgrades, and in part to growing ecological awareness.

Many countries now have legislation to promote recycling. In Europe, the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEED) will make businesses responsible for the whole hardware lifecycle, once it comes into force next year.

In particular, WEEED will make 'hardware tipping' illegal, so corporate users will need to find other ways to dispose of unwanted hardware. One option will be to pay the equipment manufacturer or a recycling specialist to handle it.

For example, the IBM recycling scheme has initially been launched in the US, where for $29.99 per PC the company will remove unwanted hardware and recycle or re-deploy it. It looks likely that IBM UK will follow suit and announce a similar service.

John Godfrey, business development manager at IT recycling company Technical Asset Management, welcomes WEEED. However, he warns manufacturers to take recycling seriously instead of trying to bolster profits.

According to Godfrey, some manufacturers actually lobbied to remove parts of the original directive, which would have forced them to incorporate recycled parts of equipment into their new hardware creations.

"Ask them what proportion of their products are made from recycled equipment? If they're serious, then they shouldn't be afraid to answer," he said.

Tony Lock, a senior analyst at Bloor Research, feels that businesses should take responsibility for the additional expenses and include them in their total cost of ownership calculations.

"No company is ever happy at picking up new costs," he said. "But they were there before, just hidden or overlooked. Now it has to be looked at."