Students at the University of Massachusetts recently joined other students on college campuses across the country in “The Computer Take Back Campaign” (CTBC) in an effort to pressure Dell Computer Corporation to take back discarded computers and other electronic waste that they manufactured.
Students hope that Dell will lead the way in the electronics industry towards a “sustainable solution to electronic waste or e-waste” through “full and physical producer take back.”
“Dell’s ad’s target college age computer buyers, so as consumers, students can push for corporate accountability for electronic waste,” said UMass alum Matt Kozuch, who helped spearhead the effort here on campus. “Computers and consumer electronics pose significant threats to public health and the environment because they contain lead, mercury, chromium, dioxin-like flame-retardants and other hazardous materials.”
The CTBC hopes that by holding the manufacturers responsible for their waste, it would create a market incentive to reduce their costs by eliminating hazardous materials and designing products to be more durable, less toxic and easier to recycle. At this point, the Office of Waste Management, at the cost of the colleges and the students, collects most of the electonic waste from the University and the surrounding areas.
Dell has a new program that it announced in May called “Dell Exchange,” which requires individual customers themselves to mail back their computers to the company.
“Consumers don’t want to pay to mail back their computers when they are finished with them. IBM has a similar program that collected about 1,000 computers in two years, which is pathetic,” said student Chris Montoya, who will also be bringing the CTBC resolution before ALANA caucus. “After consumers have spent thousands of dollars on computer equipment, it is burdensome and inconvenient for them to individually mail back their dead machines. Requiring consumers to ship back their products creates a disincentive for participation in the program.”
CTBC hopes that the ALANA caucus will pass along its resolution to the Student Government Association. From there they hope to have the support of the SGA and the University in pressuring Dell to adopt new methods in dealing with electronic waste. The resolution states that the University of Massachusetts has an institutional buying contract with Dell Computer Corporation, and as a major purchaser of computers and electronic equipment, UMass can significantly influence the practices of companies like Dell.
CTBC says that the University can do this by including in all future information technology equipment contracts clauses that require Dell to take back used equipment at the end of its useful life or at the end of the contract. CTBC also recommends that the University ask Dell to establish a time frame within which they will offer equipment that does not contain some of these hazardous materials.
“Dell is required by law to take back its computers by 2006 from its European customers, but in the United States we do not have such a law in place. If Dell is taking back computers from its European customers, why can’t they take them back from their American customers?” Kozuch said.
If the ALANA caucus passes along the resolution, then the SGA will most likely be deciding on it in the near future. Students involved with CTBC urge students to get involved and help urge the University to take a stand on this issue. The students will be setting up tables in the campus center and passing out flyers during the following school weeks. They also plan to get in touch with faculty and staff on campus to get them involved in the campaign as well.
