New Tech City IT recycling project launches with the Prince’s Trust as first charitable beneficiary

London, 13^th September 2012: From today, Tech City companies can benefit from a new IT recycling initiative to promote greater sustainability efforts in East London’s growing tech cluster. Organised by RDC (part of Computacenter Group) and Carbon Voyage, the free scheme will enable companies to call upon the service to have unwanted IT equipment picked up from their premises for recycling. Companies can then choose to pass on the proceeds generated from the recycling of the old equipment to support youth charity The Prince’s Trust, which supports unemployed young people into jobs or be paid any residual value for the IT equipment.

An estimated £470m[1] is thrown away by UK SMEs every year, by sending waste to landfill instead of recycling. In keeping with the WEEE directive, the Tech City IT recycling scheme will help fulfil the full life cycle of computers, ensuring that redundant systems are re-used to the benefit of others.

Collection and logistics of used IT equipment from Tech City companies utilises Carbon Voyage’s intelligent system to minimise the carbon footprint of its pick-up service. Using green vehicles to consolidate collections locally and part-full trucks returning to the recycling centre based in Essex, the whole pick-up service is completed with minimal impact on the environment.

Computers that are still functional are serviced and completely wiped of data with tools approved to HM Government’s Communications Electronic Security Group (CESG) ensuring full compliance to data protection legislation. Refurbished machines are resold to 72 countries around the world often with new Microsoft software installed under the official Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher programme (MAR). Computers that are at the end of their life are shredded and 100% recycled with 0% to landfill.

The project has already won the support of local partners including the London Accelerator, a digital innovation & incubation Centre and Hackney Council who has also endorsed the scheme. Depending on the level of uptake within Tech City, RDC and Carbon Voyage hope to extend the scheme to other parts of the UK as well as some of the 70 countries that RDC operate in.

Richard Celm, Manager of London Accelerator praised the scheme saying: “This is an exciting opportunity for SMEs in London to do their bit for the environment and also remove old IT in a hassle-free and safe way. With data protection increasingly becoming an issue for all businesses, London’s SME must ensure they also comply and this service allows them to do so”.

Commenting on the launch of the new IT recycling initiative, James Swanston, CEO of Carbon Voyage said: “As a start up in Shoreditch, it’s great to be part of this sustainability initiative and drive the green agenda in Tech City. SMEs in the UK have some real challenges with recycling and it’s great to be able to use our technology to mobilise this scheme.”

Gerry Hackett, Managing Director of RDC said: “RDC and Carbon Voyage offer companies based in Tech City the best possible recycling solution – great returns, green compliance, innovative logistics and, the icing on the cake, helping The Prince’s Trust continue its vital work with young people.”

Supporting the launch of this Tech City recycling project, Tech City Investment Organisation’s (TCIO) Deputy CEO Ben Southworth added: “The ecosystem in Tech City is built on mutual support, collaboration and knowledge-share. Initiatives like this are a microcosm of what’s happening in the East London tech scene. Passionate individuals or companies spot a problem and work collaboratively to find a solution. As the cluster grows, it’s important for companies to be aware and have access to such a brilliant service.”

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Carbon Voyage

Carbon Voyage is a B2B-focused startup based in Tech City that seeks to create collaborative opportunities between transport users and customers in order to deliver value by reducing cost, carbon and congestion. Their services include strategy work as well as a technology solution they have developed to achieve customer needs through focusing on removing information silos and using collaboration to generate savings and also improve financial and environmental management.

To date they have worked with a number of major organisations including Tesco plc, Aegis Group plc, Transport for London and Earls Court and Olympia Venues. For more information, visit www.carbonvoyage.com 

About RDC

RDC (part of Computacenter Group) is one of the world’s largest IT Refurbishment & Reuse companies, based in Braintree Essex and operating across 70 countries. RDC sold its 10 millionth IT item this year and through re-use and recycling, have returned £120m in value to its customers and suppliers. Through their processes, 100% of recovered IT is recycled with 0% going to landfill. RDC are certified to international standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO27001 and OHSAS 18001 and are a Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher.

They have been awarded three Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in Innovation, Sustainability and International Trade.

For more information, visit www.rdc.co.uk