Apple offers free, green PC disposal plan (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/31/apple_pc_recycle_plan/) -- The Register
Apple today launched an appeal to win the hearts and minds of eco-friendly Americans. It is offering to take away their old computer and dispose the of machine in an environmentally sound manner whenever punters buy a brand new Mac. The deal applies to customers buying through its online store or retail outlets.

The scheme covers any machine, desktop or notebook, regardless of who manufactured it. It's not standard, however - customers have to opt into the programme. If they do, Apple will email them a pre-paid shipping label - the consumer has to box up the old machine.

Dell does this too.

Dell does this too.
Really? I haven't seen a Dell retail store near me. How many do they have?

Really? I haven't seen a Dell retail store near me. How many do they have?

They have direct kiosks at both malls near us...

And we have used their program several times now, as we have worked on upgrading our computers to new hardware. It has been a nice way of getting rid of old monitors and CPUs.

My dad took my old CPU to Best Buy, minus the hard drive (it's fried, but maybe someday I'll try to recover it). I guess they have a program also, although I don't know the details.

The last several Fujistu laptops I've bought over the last several years have come with instructions and pre-paid shipping labels to send your old one back to them for donation to a worthy and needy charity (after a guaranteed wipe of your hard drive if you don't do it or remove it yourself) or for green disposal.

I did send one back for disposal once (it was in pieces...nasty accident...not my fault ;)). But the rest I've "handed down" to friends/family, etc.

I'm glad companies are starting to do this. When I look out in our warehouse and the junk heap of ancient computers, keyboards, monitors, etc that have accumulated over the years...I often wonder how many millions of tons of this junk is sitting out there in other folks' garages...just waiting for a proper burial.

I often wonder how many millions of tons of this junk is sitting out there in other folks' garages...just waiting for a proper burial.
Or not waiting for proper burial and getting an improper one!

I agree that it is so nice more and more companies are doing this. It can be a pain to get rid of old computers if you don't know what to do.

As others have already noted, a lot of companies have been doing this for a while. Apple has actually been taking some criticism from environmental groups recently, particularly over the non-replacable batteries on the various iPod models. They pretty much had to get this kind of program in place.

-Jeff