Green IT initiative is a winner all round
28th April 2009
Deputy Leader, Cllr Paul Tilsley views all that's left of a computer hard drive after shredding, watched by Secure IT Disposals' MD, Martin Burke
Research last year showed that only 20% of the 6 million items of electronic equipment thrown away annually are recycled. It’s good to see then that the scheme that we put in place last year together with Birmingham City Council, Service Birmingham and Secure IT, to recycle IT waste such as computers, printers and laptops is starting to have a positive impact on the community. So far around 15,000 items of unwanted IT kit have been collected from businesses and schools. In addition Secure IT provides a door to door residential collection service which to date total 108 collections. A nominal fee of £15 is charged for up to four items though for the registered disabled it is free of charge.
Where possible the kit is refurbished (all data is permanently deleted) and offered to local charities or community groups free of charge or sold through a neighbourhood shop, Community Computers, in Shard End at a greatly reduced cost to those that would not normally be able to afford them. For Secure IT, as a direct result of the recycling scheme, they have increased their staff by 40% taking 17 people out of employment – a winner of a scheme.
