A helping hand with old IT gear

Dec 12 2007 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

AWASTE management company is offering small businesses that are members of the North-East Chamber of Commerce the chance to dispose of their old IT equipment free of charge.

NECC member Cors Limited, which provides recycling solutions of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), is proposing the three-month amnesty in the new year when many companies do a full spring clean of their equipment.

As there are often substantial fines for the incorrect disposal of such products, the initiative could potentially save companies thousands of pounds.

The offer is limited to NECC member companies employing up to 10 people, though Cors also proposes a reduced rate advisory service to all NECC members, helping create bespoke recycling solutions and environmental compliance for each particular company.

The WEEE Directive, introduced by the European Union, makes businesses directly accountable for the correct disposal of old equipment.

Cors hopes that its amnesty will make companies aware of their ethical and legal responsibilities to the environment.

The equipment is potentially hazardous when broken up, and as the number of hazardous landfill sites in the UK has decreased in recent years from 250 to around 15, recycling or refurbishing such equipment is the environmentally-friendly option.

John Flynn, Cors director, said: “Many companies spend millions on expensive electronic equipment but when this equipment becomes defunct or out of date, they are unsure how to dispose of it.

“They cannot just dispose of it in a skip to be dumped in a landfill site – instead companies need to look at how this equipment can be recycled or else disposed of in a more environmentally-friendly manner. This is where Cors can help.”