The drive for newer, faster, better technology is generating dramatic gains in productivity – but serious environmental impacts as well. Due in large part to high-profile media coverage, most people have seen images of children playing in smoldering, toxic e-waste dumps in developing countries. Since about 80 percent of e-waste collected for recycling ends up in these dumps – much of it from businesses – keeping discarded electronics out of this toxic trade is key issue for ensuring corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.
Donating surplus PCs – when properly managed – helps reduce the environmental impact of IT by extending the useful life of equipment. At the same time, effective donations of used PCs magnify philanthropic giving by helping people, schools and community organizations that desperately need technology – but can’t afford it.
Taking action to address the “digital divide” is an important CSR priority. In today’s digital society, a home computer plays the role of library, post office, tutor, bank, newspaper, employment agency, medical advisor, match maker and much more. Yet one in four U.S. homes – or 28 million households – lacks a PC. And more than 13 million PCs are needed by U.S. nonprofits to streamline operations and expand services.
Directing even a small portion of surplus IT to this cause could have a dramatic impact. According to Gartner, U.S. businesses replace approximately 40 million computers every year – and about 75 percent of this equipment is four years old or less, meaning it has plenty of useful life remaining. Yet more than half is stowed away in warehouses and closets or discarded. Only 3 percent is donated, and many of these computers are “gifted” to charities without proper testing, repairs and legally-licensed software.
Read the complete article at Environmental Leader