March 2004

Twelve Grants Awarded by Dell

Round Rock, TX— Dell Inc. announced twelve grant winners whose awards of $10,000 each are to be used to conduct computer collection events across the United States this spring. The winners were selected from a competitive group of 200 applicants that included state and local governments, higher education institutions and non-profit organizations. 

Grantees will use the award to organize, promote, stage and recycle computer equipment in an effective, free “No Computer Should Go To Waste” collection event in their community. Dell also will continue to conduct its own recycling events in 2004.

“The initial award of $120,000 from Dell is intended to raise awareness of responsible end-of-life options for computers and empower communities with a model and means for successful collection events,” said Pat Nathan, Dell’s Sustainable Business Director. “The enthusiastic response to this grant program is a display of the far-reaching interest in and need for electronics recycling programs in communities across the country.”

Recipients of Dell’s Recycling Grant Program awards for spring 2004 are: Green Star, Inc., Anchorage, Arkansas; Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, San Ramon, California; D.C. Department of Public Works, Office of Recycling, Washington DC; City of Atlanta, Benjamin E. Mays Center, Tech Corps Georgia, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia; Bridging the Gap, Kansas City, Missouri; Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Jackson, Mississippi; Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Town of Bethlehem, Albany, New York; Centre County Solid Waste Authority, State College, Pennsylvania; Recycling Market Development Advisory Council, Columbia, South Carolina; City of Knoxville, Solid Waste Office, Knoxville, Tennessee; Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As part of the program, grantees will receive technical assistance from the National Recycling Coalition (NRC).  NRC will conduct a series of grantee trainings to share best practices, create a supportive team atmosphere, and encourage dialogue and interaction among organizations. The training will also cover strategies for developing effective partnerships for collection and selection of responsible recycling processors, fund development, and media and grassroots outreach.

The 10-member grant review board based its selections on considerations of the quality of the collaborative effort, prospects for successful outcomes, geographic diversity, sustainability of the program beyond the grant period and the ability to leverage the local community’s existing recycling infrastructure.

The grant program is a key element of Dell’s 2004 strategy of using events as an efficient means of educating consumers about the importance of electronics recycling.  In addition to the 12 communities receiving grants, Dell will hold six recycling events in 2004.