Surplus PC Programs Aid Nonprofits

Schools, charities, and other organizations often receive PC donations from businesses and government, but Microsoft’s standard software licensing rules have sometimes made it difficult for the PCs to be refurbished and put back into use. The company has developed new programs to ensure that licensing requirements do not interfere with legitimate educational and nonprofit uses. The programs make more PCs available for low-income users and resolve nettlesome problems for both business customers and Microsoft regarding disposal and use of surplus PCs.

Problems of Disposal

More than 40 million PCs became obsolete in the United States alone in 2001, according to a study by the U.S. National Safety Council. Although more than 50% of those machines are estimated to be in working order, most will be thrown into landfills where they will release lead, cadmium, mercury, and other pollutants. Less than 20% will be “recycled,” and as much as 80% of this recycled material is sent to Asia, where it is disassembled, acid-washed, and incinerated under very primitive and polluting conditions to remove copper, gold and other materials.