Economic reasons
Buying a new computer is not a purchase that goes unnoticed by the bank manager for most of us. For some of us a new computer is just not important enough to warrant such a cost. Say you do shell out the £500 for a new computer, in six months your new system will ‘feel’ old and slow. Modern technology is a constant rolling improvement, so much so that we forget ‘obsolete’ technology actually does what we want, it just doesn’t sing and dance as much, but who really needs the singing and dancing when all they want to do is send an email?! This is where digi:redo steps in, by giving obsolete technology a breath of fresh air and helping extend its useful shelf life.

Environmental reasons

There are many nasty chemicals found in digital technology, particularly computers and monitors, this is an important reason to think before disposing of your unwanted technology. Projects such as digi:redo help to control the pollution that unused technology creates. The following is an extract from a Guardian news page (to read the whole article click here):

The illegal trade in e-waste is highly lucrative. It is possible to extract more gold out of a tonne of electronic circuitry than from a tonne of gold-bearing rock. But illegal dumping is putting at risk charities and other organisations that donate second-hand equipment to the developing world.

Since the introduction of the Basle Ban outlawing the export of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries in 1992, computers have become an everyday item. Consumers and businesses are replacing their kit at an ever increasing rate, creating a new waste mountain.

Six years ago the EU produced the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive, which introduced new curbs and restrictions on the movement of e-waste. The directive, which came into effect in Britain in January last year, heavily regulates the movement of e-waste for recycling and bans its export for disposal. It also introduced a scheme under which the cost of properly disposing of electronic equipment put on the market after August 2005 must be picked up by the producers of the waste – manufacturers, retailers, branders and importers.

But DanWatch, a partner organisation of Consumers International, has evidence that computer equipment from British companies and even local authorities is being dumped in West Africa.

“We filmed children as young as six searching for metal scraps in the earth, which was littered with the toxic waste from thousands of shattered cathode ray tubes,” said Benjamin Holst, co-founder of DanWatch. “A whole community is virtually living and working in this highly toxic environment, which is growing every day.”

Properly functioning computer equipment is exempt from the WEEE rules about export. In fact the regulations encourage refurbishment and re-use of computer equipment. But there is no regime that checks computer equipment destined for re-use before it is shipped overseas.

Regulating waste in England and Wales falls under the remit of the Environment Agency. “Our position would be that genuine re-use of working equipment is generally a good thing,” explained Adrian Harding, the agency’s policy advisor.

Technological reasons
For many people computer and digital technology is a reality removed from their day-to-day existence. digi:redo aims to help to bridge the technology divide and promote digital literacy in North East Lincolnshire and the surrounding areas. By doing this we hope to Reduce the fear of technology, one of our driving aims.