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Recycled IT is a win/win
Buying refurbished computers can save money and help the planet
E
very year, millions of laptops, tablets and desktop computers are thrown away, creating huge landfill and
e-waste issues. Low levels of recycling mean that many tonnes of materials such as copper, silver and gold are lost, while the earth’s finite resources are depleted. Schools have a part to play in bucking this trend – and it’s one that will save them money. Schools regularly need to upgrade their IT systems due to ageing and
wear and tear. Yet few have the budget to buy new computers and laptops that will enable young people to reach their academic potential. As a result, many are turning to refurbished equipment – a far cheaper alternative and one that allows the lifetime of an individual unit to be extended by up to ten years, reducing the environmental impact of disposal. When the Inspiration Trust in East Anglia had to reduce the IT
infrastructure spend across its 14 academies by 40%, head of ICT Michael Vaughan got in touch with recycling specialists The Renewed Store. Having conducted an internal audit to develop the replacement and upgrade strategy, Michael was interested in how refurbished desktops and laptops could help him achieve his spend reduction. ‘Based on the age and condition
of the PCs across all our schools, the estimated replacement cost was £5 million,’ he says. ‘I reduced the spend by 20% by choosing different technology providers and platforms but the real game-changer, which
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