What do you do with your old and obsolete PCs?

Despite looming EC legislation set to outlaw illegal dumping of IT equipment, UK businesses are still ignoring their environmental responsibilities.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive comes into force in August 2005, yet less than 10 per cent of firms are aware the way they deal with obsolete equipment must be brought into line with the new law, according to research commissioned by MIREC Asset Management.

While the figure for companies sending electronic waste for recycling is way up on last year – 24 per cent compared to 15 per cent of companies surveyed – more than one million working computers are still destroyed every year.

Sending old hardware to landfill or dumping it in a skip to be disposed of by light-fingered locals is still a popular option. The worst culprits are SMEs, who often don't have a policy in place to deal with their outdated electronics.

Many firms are keen to extend the life of their PCs, but several of those questioned expressed concerns about the more environmentally friendly alternative of reselling or donating elderly machines abroad.

Companies felt once the technology had reached the end of its usefulness, it was just as likely to be dumped by its new owners, who wouldn't be subject to the same stringent environmental laws.

There is also the issue of security. Many companies are worried that anything less than taking a hammer to their hard drive can leave data at risk when it is recovered by a future user of that machine.

Although more and more companies are getting rid of equipment in ways recommended by the WEEE directive, including council collection schemes and disposal companies, fewer ICT procurement managers are actually aware of the legislation.

Jaf Shah, marketing and fundraising manager at Computer Aid International, a non-profit supplier of refurbished computers to schools and community projects in developing countries, said: "IT departments can be reluctant to act in isolation, without the sanction of the finance department. Schemes which involve the co-operation of IT, finance, procurement and communications departments can be very successful."