Don't recycle your computer

A charity that recycles computers is using Twitter to remind people that it is better to re-use their computers before recycling them, as part of its support for Green Britain Day. Computer Aid International is urging companies to consider the re-use of their old PCs and laptops as part of their green initiatives.

Re-using old PCs is significantly better for the environment than recycling them, said Tony Roberts, Computer Aid founder and chief executive. The charity professionally refurbishes PCs and laptops for re-use in schools, hospitals and community organisations in the developing world.

"Green Britain Day will provide the ideal opportunity for companies to consider the environmental impact in conjunction with other green and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Research has shown it is 20 times better for the environment to re-use a PC rather then recycle it, as 75 percent of the fossil fuels used over its entire lifecycle have already been consumed before the computer is even switched on for the very first time,” he explained.

Full story is on the eWeek website

Follow Computer Aid on Twitter here: twitter.com/computeraid