Hewlett-Packard Co. is launching a program that will give consumers up to $50 toward the purchase of new products on the companys Web site in exchange for recycling their old computer equipment through HPs recycling service.
The HP Planet Partners e-Coupon program, which started this week and will run through April 30, will accept used computer equipment from any manufacturer, according to the Palo Alto, Calif., company.
The service can be accessed at www.hp.com/recycle and includes picking up of the old equipment. HP will then determine which can be reused or donated, and which will be recycled at the companys recycling facility in Roseville, Calif. According to the company, the facility processes up to 3 million pounds of used equipment each month.
The recycling service is part of HPs Planet Partners initiative, which encompasses a number of environmental and recycling programs.
Finding ways to divert old computer equipment from ending up in landfills is a growing concern, according to federal officials. Aides for U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., said last week that the congressman is planning to file a bill that would tack a $10 recycling tax onto the price of PCs, monitors and laptops.
Also, the federal Environmental Protection Agency launched its Plug-in to Recycling program in early January, which counts as members several computer makers, including Dell Computer Corp.
HP, quoting the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, said that 315 million computers will become obsolete by 2004.
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