PROGRAM INFORMATION AND
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BACKGROUND:
· Dell and ABVI-Goodwill are introducing Reconnect, a free drop-off program for recycling unwanted computers.
· Reconnect will serve consumers throughout Greater Rochester, including Monroe and Wayne counties.
· The program’s goal is two-fold: divert used computers and computer equipment from area landfills and provide consumer education on the importance of environmentally responsible computer disposal. Reconnect also will create job opportunities for individuals in the community who are blind or visually impaired or who have other barriers to employment or independence.
· Residents can drop-off computers and computer equipment at any of the six convenient Goodwill locations in Greater Rochester in Brockport, Greece, Henrietta, Penfield-Webster, Downtown Rochester and Perinton.
· Residents will be responsible for removing data from hard drives and other storage media before donating to Goodwill. ABVI-Goodwill staff will provide donors with a donation receipt at the time of donation.
· ABVI-Goodwill will accept and sort the donated computer equipment and Dell's product recovery partner will recycle and remarket the recycled materials, such as plastics, glass and metals. All proceeds support ABVI-Goodwill’s mission.
· Other Goodwill-Dell programs are under way in Austin (15 counties in Central Texas), San Francisco (Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo counties), San Antonio (23 counties in Central and South Texas), San Diego County, Houston (15 counties), North Carolina (49 counties), Pittsburgh, Northwest Ohio, and throughout the state of Michigan.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What was announced?
ABVI-Goodwill has partnered with Dell to launch Reconnect, an initiative that will allow consumers throughout Greater Rochester to recycle any brand of computer or computer equipment for free. It’s easy to donate and the program benefits the environment and the local community.
Why is this important to Greater Rochester?
Local residents need easy and affordable options for responsibly disposing of their unwanted computer equipment. Also, the mission of ABVI-Goodwill is to provide programs, services and employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired or who have other barriers to employment or independence, and Reconnect will help us enhance this mission.
Why did ABVI-Goodwill partner with Dell?
We have partnered with Dell because they bring the expertise in ensuring that computer equipment disposal processes are environmentally sound, and because by joining together to raise awareness of responsible recycling of computer equipment, we can reach more people throughout the region. Dell has successfully partnered with Goodwill in several other regions, including Central Texas, Houston, San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Northwest Ohio, and throughout the state of Michigan to offer free computer recycling options.
How do consumers benefit from this?
Reconnect is free and convenient, and helps protect the environment while benefiting the community. Many consumers don’t know how to responsibly dispose of used computers and would like to donate them to a non-profit if possible -- this program provides that opportunity.
How does ABVI-Goodwill benefit from this?
Reconnect will remind area residents that they can bring their unwanted computer equipment to any of our local retail stores and donation centers. Dell's authorized product recovery partner will remarket the recycled materials, such as plastics, glass and metals, and all proceeds will support eh mission of the agency. And Reconnect furthers ABVI-Goodwill’s long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility.
How does Dell benefit from this?
Programs like this help increase the number of computers recovered for recycling. Dell is committed to leadership in computer recycling and to ensuring consumers have no-cost means of recycling used equipment. The company is continually focused on increasing computer recycling rates, and providing consumers recovery options that are easy and affordable.
What are your goals for the program?
Our goal is to keep more than 300,000 pounds of computer equipment out of area landfills. The alliance will also educate consumers across the state about the importance of properly recycling used electronics.
How does the program work?
Consumers simply drop off any brand of used computers and computer equipment at any local Goodwill retail store or donation center in the region. Goodwill will sort the donated computer equipment, which will be responsibly recycled through the Dell Asset Recovery Services value recovery program. Dell's authorized product recovery partner will remarket the recycled materials, such as plastics, glass and metals, and all proceeds will support the mission of ABVI-Goodwill.
How did Dell and Goodwill choose the existing areas across the country for this program?
The existing areas where Reconnect operates were chosen for a variety of reasons including: the affinity for technology and environment in the communities, the ability and experience of those Goodwill organizations to manage collection of computers, the ability to test the program on a regional basis and Dell’s facility locations. Any Goodwill is eligible to join the program and Dell and Goodwill are working to make the program national in the long-term.
Are these permanent programs?
Both Goodwill and Dell intend for this to be a permanent program. Each program is evaluated quarterly by both Dell and Goodwill on criteria such as the volume of equipment collected, the value returned to Goodwill, the number of jobs Goodwill is able to create, etc. Dell and Goodwill are working to make this an on-going, national program in the long term.
How much does it cost a consumer?
There is no-charge to drop off a used computer at any Goodwill donation site where the Reconnect program is operational. This includes all six regional Goodwill locations in Brockport, Greece, Henrietta, Penfield-Webster, Downtown Rochester and Perinton.
What do you do about data on the hard drive?
Residents are advised to remove all personal data from their hard drives before donating a computer. Residents are further advised they should wipe their drive before donation – a number of programs to do this are available online. Neither ABVI-Goodwill nor Dell are liable for data removal or protection.
Dell’s recycling partner that will receive equipment collected from this program will perform a data overwrite and testing process on any hard drive that may have value for remarketing. Drives that do not have remaining value, or that fail the testing process, are destroyed.
Can residents drop off their TVs and other electronics for recycling?
The program is intended to encourage recycling of computers and computer equipment. Examples of computer equipment are computers (desktops and towers), laptops, keyboards, cords, fax peripherals, mice, printers, scanners and speakers. Any brand of computer equipment is accepted.
Is it tax deductible?
The donation to Goodwill may be tax deductible. Consumers who drop off a computer at a Goodwill location can request a receipt for their donation. Residents should always check with a qualified financial advisor regarding tax issues.
What is Dell’s role in this program?
As part of the partnership, Dell provides the operational expertise necessary to ensure that the program meets the highest industry standards in environmental health and safety. The refurbishment and recycling of equipment will be managed by a Dell authorized recycler. This program is the latest in a series of Dell environmental initiatives to increase recycling participation rates and consumer awareness of the need to responsibly recycle computers.
What is ABVI-Goodwill’s role in this program?
ABVI-Goodwill provides the donations infrastructure and a sophisticated logistics system to gather and sort the computer donations. ABVI-Goodwill is also building on its established partnerships with other public and community agencies to generate donations and jobs. Agency employees will staff the sorting operation, creating jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired or who have other barriers to employment or independence.
Is Goodwill profiting from this program?
Just like the other generously donated goods that Goodwill re-sells, proceeds from the computers that are refurbished and resold help provide programs, services and job opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired or who have other barriers to employment or independence in our community.
Who is handling the recycling?
ABVI-Goodwill employees will handle intake, collection and sorting of equipment that is dropped off at their retail stores and donation centers. A Dell authorized recycler and logistics provider will pick up the material from the “hub” location in Rochester and handle the responsible remarket or recycling of the equipment.
Why is Dell involved in this project, when you already provide free home pick-up recycling options for Dell products and for all products with a new purchase?
Dell’s commitment is to find easy to use and affordable recycling solutions for consumers. In short, Dell continues to test ways that may increase recovery of used computers from consumers. Dell plans to continue to grow our consumer home pick-up offer as well.
How is this any different from other computer collections in the U.S.?
One of the unique attributes of this program is it brings together the complementary strengths of a non-profit and a corporation to provide a service to area consumers. The project may provide a model that other communities can use to provide community-based recycling of electronics.
What is the cost for recycling and who is covering it?
It is difficult to calculate the exact cost as we cannot predict how much material will be collected which cannot be refurbished. The first goal will be to refurbish systems and parts for resale. Proceeds from these sales will help cover the cost of recycling material that cannot be repaired.
How do you handle broken monitors?
All parties that handle used monitors – ABVI-Goodwill, our logistics partner, and Dell’s authorized recycler – have stringent procedures in place to ensure that any breakage is properly contained.
According to several environmental groups, there are hazardous constituents in computers such as mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. How is that material handled?
The recycling process and recycling workplace are managed to the most stringent environmental standards to ensure a safe workplace. There are some environmentally-sensitive materials used in computer design, but these can be safely recovered and recycled through well-managed recycling programs like Reconnect. The important point is that recycling keeps environmentally-sensitive materials out of landfills.
What is Dell’s position on recycling legislation?
Dell supports a policy that would make all producers responsible for offering recovery and recycling services for their own brand products from consumers at no charge. Dell also believes the marketplace is best positioned to increase efficiency in collection, recycling and design of products, and any legislation should not include fees or creation of new government infrastructure for collecting and recycling electronics. The Reconnect program is being introduced without legislative or regulatory mandate by the combined efforts of Dell and ABVI-Goodwill.