Dell Ahead of Recycling Schedule

ROUND ROCK, Texas -- Dell today extended its leadership in global recycling, announcing it is ahead of schedule to achieve a multi-year goal of recovering 125 million kilograms (about 275 million pounds) of computer equipment by 2009. The company also renewed its worldwide challenge to computer manufacturers to offer free recycling to consumers.

Dell reported the recovery of more than 78 million pounds (nearly 40,000 tons) of unwanted information-technology equipment from customers in 2006, a 93 percent increase over 2005 and 12.4 percent of the equipment it sold seven years earlier, more than any other manufacturer that reports recovery progress by past sales weight.

The company expects to reach 1 billion pounds of collected equipment in approximately half the time it took one of its competitors.

Protecting the environment is too important an issue for one company to be leading alone,” said Dell Chairman and CEO Michael Dell. “Customers should not be forced into improper disposal due to a lack of environmentally responsible options. To that end, we are renewing our challenge to every computer manufacturer, regardless of size or location, to join us in offering a free, global consumer recycling program. It is the right thing for our customers and the earth we share.”

Dell Inc.