CULLEN LAUNCHES PC REUSE SCHEME TO BENEFIT CHARITIES

22/01/2004

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Mr Martin Cullen TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today (19 January) launched RT (Reuse Technology) Centre a reuse scheme which facilitates the reuse of personal computers by community and non profit groups.

Through the initiative, PC owners can donate used systems to the RT Center making hundreds of used PCs and accessories available to non-profit organisations and to communities that would not otherwise be able to afford them. The scheme, entitled Reuse Technology Center is being made possible through a partnership comprised of the Central Remedial Clinic, the Centre for Independent Living, Dell and Blanchardstown IT.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Cullen said: "This scheme is an innovative approach to recycling and is an initiative that the Government is delighted to be associated with. PC penetration in Ireland is increasing year on year this initiative will provide people with a constructive way to dispose of the PCs that they no longer use. It is a perfect example of the type of partnership approach that will be critical to the successful implementation of the WEEE Directive. "This programme not only helps to increase levels of access to technology but it is also extremely helpful in terms of protecting the environment. It fits ideally with the Government's waste campaign of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and the RT Center initiative makes great strides in encouraging behavioural change and helping to protect the environment."

The initiative is based on the premise that many business and personal PC users upgrade their PCs when they could still potentially be of value to others. The RT Center initiative seeks to encourage those people who are planning to upgrade, to donate their old PCs so that others, who are not in a position to buy a new PC, can avail of a used one that still has a sufficient level of functionality for everyday use.

The Central Remedial Clinic and the Centre for Independent Living will co-ordinate the easy transfer of donated equipment to appropriate charities for the purpose of connecting these organisations and their members to the ever changing information society. This will involve liasing with the donor, and matching it up with one of the range of non-profit organisations who have signed up as recipients. Blanchardstown IT will support the refurbishment of the PCs. It is hoped to extend this scheme to other Institutes of Technology nationwide.