Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Equipment Good Practice Guidelines for Environmental Sustainability: Review of current practice in Govt³ agencies

Executive Summary

1 Introduction

2 Methodology

3 Equipment volume

4 Equipment acquisition and disposal

5 Procurement

6 Sustainable use

7 Security cleansing

8 Hardware disposal

Appendix 1: Govt³ agencies

Appendix 2: Survey questionnaire

8 Hardware disposal

Current methods of equipment disposal are summarised in Figure 4.

Figure 4 indicates that the two most common methods for disposing of unwanted computer equipment are through a refurbisher (for resale or auction) or by donation to a school or community group. Relatively small quantities of equipment are sold to staff or returned to suppliers under “take-back” schemes. Less than one per cent of computer equipment is being sent directly to landfills, although larger volumes of peripheral equipment such as printers (nearly 500 in 2005/06) and fax machines (around 250 in 2005/06) are being landfilled. There are also significant quantities of equipment being held in storage, pending the development of environmentally friendly disposal solutions.

Most agencies currently dispose of surplus computer equipment through a CANZ⁵ accredited recycler (RemarkIT⁶ in Wellington or The Ark⁷ in Auckland) in response to a Cabinet directive some years ago that encouraged government agencies to donate surplus equipment through the CANZ scheme to support the expansion of ICT infrastructure in schools.

However, since this scheme commenced over five years ago, the cost of a new computer has fallen from over $3,000 to under $1,000, while the price of a refurbished computer has stayed about the same at $250-$400. At the same time, schools have progressively become much better equipped with computers, and teachers have upskilled in the use of ICT. The net result is that there is a reducing demand from schools for refurbished computers, with most preferring to pay slightly more and get much higher-spec equipment. Nevertheless, there is still a strong demand for refurbished equipment for school-related programmes such as the 2020 Communications Trust’s Computers in Homes⁸ programme. This programme aims to ensure all families with school-aged children in low-income areas have access to a computer and the Internet in their homes - an estimated 100,000 families.

The Dell e-Day,⁹ held in Wellington in 2006, in partnership with the Ministry for the Environment, CANZ, RemarkIT and the Wellington City Council, was referred to by many agencies as one attempt to assist households, which, along with schools and community groups, often find themselves at the end of the “reuse” chain and have to bear the cost of disposal. Planning is underway for further e-Days in other centres, and while these can clearly help in reducing the amount of e-waste sent to landfills, they are not a complete or long-term solution.

Mobile phones appear to be presenting more of a challenge in terms of disposal, with most agencies unsure about good practice. This is despite take-back schemes being operated by the two major providers, Telecom and Vodafone. This year the Ministry for the Environment, in partnership with Telecom and Vodafone, is increasing awareness of the schemes and promoting the recycling of mobile phones.

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