Dell’s New Computer Recycling Program Is A Crock!
A while back, I gave praises to Dell’s computer recycling program. Well, they’ve just changed that program, and frankly, it stinks. They took an excellent program that could have been an example to other companies and changed it to as stringent as every other company out there. They’ve made it more diffcult for non businesses to recycle computer systems.
The old program allowed you to recycle up to 5 computer items from any company for $10 apiece. It was a great program. They took everything and there was no purchase necessary. They no longer do that. Now, you can only recycle old Dell products with their program. They will also recycle other computer products, but they will only do that if you buy something from Dell first. The Dell recycling page on their web site also does not easily tell you how to recycle anything but a Dell product, though they do state that you can. In fact, it is not clear from the web site if it is possible to recycle anything BUT a Dell product.
I will say it is nice to see that the recycling program is free, that is an improvement. But Dell also took two steps back when they decided to remove their program of taking up to 5 computer products for $10 apiece.
So, unless you buy something from Dell first, or have a Dell product to recycle, you’re pretty much out of luck. I think it stinks.
I even got a comment on my other post about recycling from a Dell representative stating how they were committed to recycling:
thanks for recognition of Dell’s efforts and for attention to the issue of finding convenient recycling resources for used computers for consumers. Wanted to be sure you knewsould know that Dell has committed to providing free recycling of anything Dell-branded, regardless of replacement purchase, and will launch that service in the US before the end of September. This service includes home pick-up of the used computer.
It states very clearly that Dell is committed to only recycling Dell products. It’s like they don’t see the bigger picture: the reason you recycle computer products is so they don’t pollute our groundwater, and frankly, it shouldn’t matter if the computer product is a Dell or not.
Dell is not commmitted to anything but the bottom line. If they were, they’d add to their old policy and allow people to ship back old Dell products for free while still charging $10 for everything else. Dell could have been a shining example to other computer companies and really advertised this as something they do that others don’t. But they didn’t.
I have to say: I’m disgusted.
Wow - thanks for some robust feedback. I’m actually the Dell representative who
left that last coment so thought I would weigh back in and see if I can help
clarify.
First let me go over our consumer recycling offers. We offer free recycling to
consumers. Consumers who have old Dell branded equipment can recycle for
no-charge (”Dell free recycling”) and consumers who are purchasing new Dell
equipment can recycle any brand of old equipment for no charge (”free with
purchase” recycling).
According to the latest data I’ve seen, I believe only one other company in
our industry is offering “free with purchase” recycling, and I’m not aware
of any other company offering free recycling similar to our “Dell free recyling”
offer.
I think what you are concerned about is us ending our “paid” recycling offer
which we in fact did. Our feeling was that our first responsibility is to
offer recycling for products we make and sell and we encourage all in our
industry to offer the same. We continue ot offer recycling for other-branded
equipment but with purchase. I’m not clear on the logic of why you don’t have
the same strong feelings about other manufacturers who are not offering free
recycling?
Also, we continue to offer a no-cost donation program that is available anywhere
in the U.S. and accepts and brand of equipment. And we’re continuing to expand
our alliance with Goodwill. Where that program exists consumers can drop off
any brand of computer equipment for no charge responsible recycling. And we are
working with Goodwill to make this a national program.
I’m not clear on the logic of the comment about Dell only being interested
in the bottom line — all of these programs cost Dell money.
I’d be happy to share more information about our efforts if you’d like but did
Comment by BryantatDell — October 16, 2006 @ 3:25 pmwant to weigh in as I disagree with the idea Dell is taking a step back when
in fact we dramatically enhanced our recycling program and are doing far more
than others in the industry.
[quote]I’m not clear on the logic of why you don’t have
the same strong feelings about other manufacturers who are not offering free
recycling?[/quote]
That’s the thing. I do. What disappoints me so much is that Dell did the right thing to begin with, and then decided to end it *instead* of adding to it.
You added a good recycling program with the free recycle with purchase. But you took away a great paid recycling program to do it. That’s how you took a step back.
You could have added the free program to the paid program and really had something to brag about. “We’re the *only* company who really cares about the environment. For just $10, we’ll take your old computer off your hands. No purchase necessary. Or, recycle your old computer equipment for free when you purchase a Dell. By recycling the computer equipment, we are preventing harmful metals from entering our drinking water. It’s one way Dell cares for the world we live in.”
You could have articles in Time magazine about a program like that.
I think that kind of spin would make other computer companies really look at what you’re doing and emulate it. It’d be an example of what a computer company should do: recycle all computers for the benefit of the world we live in.
Comment by Heather — October 22, 2006 @ 3:29 pm