Latest News

Mountains of IT waste otherwise destined for landfill have been recycled or re-used in the community thanks to an environmentally friendly initiative by enterprising partners Birmingham City Council, Digital Birmingham and Secure IT Disposals Ltd.

Under the pioneering venture launched last May, Birmingham residents can benefit from the UK's first doorstep collection and recycling service for unwanted computers and IT equipment.

In addition, Birmingham businesses can take advantage of the UK's first computer recycling scheme offering data destruction guaranteed to MoD standards.

Secure IT Disposals Ltd, which is based at Woodgate Business Park, has so far collected around 15,000 pieces of unwanted IT equipment from Birmingham businesses and schools, alongside running 108 residential collections for which a nominal £15.00 fee is charged for four items. 49 of these collections were made free of charge for registered disabled people.

All equipment collected under the residential scheme that is still in a useable condition is offered to local charities or community groups free of charge whilst the original owners can rest assured that any personal data is completely and permanently erased.

The donated equipment makes a huge contribution to the local community: after it has been checked and cleaned by Secure IT it is passed to ENTA CIC, a local training provider that works in some of Birmingham's most disadvantaged wards and provides training to equip people to enter employment or further development.

Much of the equipment is refurbished and tested and 220 former city council computers have been sold to benefit recipients via a neighbourhood shop, Community Computers, which opened in the Shard End district in November last year. This scheme, which is supported by Service Birmingham and Secure IT, enables PCs and laptops - which come fully equipped with free Microsoft software - to be sold at a greatly reduced cost to people who otherwise would not be able to afford them.

Furthermore, as direct result of the recycling initiative Secure IT has increased its staff by 40%, taking 17 people out of unemployment.

To find out about opening times for Community Computers, call 0870 727 1578, or visit www.speedie.co.uk to buy online.

For further information on ENTA, call 0121 359 6162 or 0121 200 1096.

To find out about opening times for Community Computers, call 0870 727 1578, or visit www.speedie.co.uk to buy online.