At the Austin, Texas company TechTurn, discarded computers don't become another item that contributes to electronic waste. Instead, nearly every computer and monitor that TechTurn's 200 employees overhaul finds a home – through an auction site like eBay, through a computer wholesaler. Often, these machines find a great second life at non-profit organizations, schools and in low income families around the globe through Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher Program (MAR), which is helping the industry extend the life of computers.

Until recently, most buyers of older equipment had to contend with a computer that lacked a new operating system and often had software that was not supported. Often, even if an operating system were purchased through a retail channel, the computer might not have worked properly, due to mismatched drivers or other issues with older obsolete software on these older machines.

But now, buyers of refurbished desktop and notebook computers enjoy the benefits of a newly installed Certified copy of Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional, a year of technical support, and the convenience that comes when the required driver sets for a computer's components are present. In addition, Microsoft Office 2003 Standard is now available for computers supplied to eligible charitable organizations and other specially approved recipients.

Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) Program

Through MAR, computer refurbishers can offer end users the comfort and security of a licensed Windows operating system Inaugurated in November 2007, the MAR designation lets computer refurbishers offer rebuilt computers that have a higher value to customers, and helps prevent the waste of older computers.

The Issue of E-Waste

It's important that the high tech industry consider its contribution to e-waste, the millions of electronics products that become obsolete or are thrown away.

In 2008, Microsoft conducted a study with The Gartner Group that showed close to 200 million personal computers each year are placed in storage, tossed into a landfill, or enter the secondary market - where they're refurbished and reused, recycled.

Computers that are not properly disposed of present environmental hazards. Old CRT-style monitors contain lead, and system boards can have traces of chemicals such as cadmium, mercury, and beryllium¹.

In many cases, computers that are not properly disposed of in developed countries end up in Asia or Africa, where, they are often broken down for raw materials with dangerous or environmentally unsafe practices.

The Prevention of Computer Waste

Computer refurbishment helps prevent computer waste and provides affordable technology to millions of people.

Today, about 28 million computers are refurbished and resold. But the renovation of PC operating systems was a challenge to recycling firms in the past. Typically, an operating system could be restored only if the computer had a Certificate of Authenticity and its recovery media or recovery image.

And that posed a challenge. According to TechTurn President Jake Player, "Before MAR, unless we got a system with the original recovery media, which was rare, we could not sell it with an operating system. Not a lot of people want to buy a computer without an operating system. And we found that most of the calls from people having a problem were due to the fact they didn't have the right drivers on the machine."

With the MAR program, TechTurn and other refurbishers purchase Windows XP licenses at special prices and are able to install fresh operating systems on desktop and notebook computers that have a Certificate Of Authenticity, which shows they were initially equipped with a Microsoft operating system. In addition, Microsoft provides MAR with the Refurbisher Pre-installation Kit (RPK) which includes a driver toolset that contains about 30,000 drivers certified by the Windows Hardware Quality Lab. MAR can match a computer's specific components, such as video and sound cards, to the correct driver. "That makes for a great experience for the customer," says Player.

Safe Recycling and Disposal of Used Computers

In addition to ensuring that functional computers find a second home, the MAR program helps the environment in other ways. Participants are required to follow strict standards for recycling and waste disposal, a step that keeps computers out of landfills. TechTurn, for instance, follows a "zero landfill" policy and recycles every part of a computer.

MAR participants have systems in place that follow U.S. Department of Defense standards for data wiping, ensuring that private data that might be on a computer's hard drive does not enter the market. To qualify for the MAR program, prospective participants must prove to Microsoft that they have refurbished an average of at least 5,000 computers per month for at least a year, ensuring that they have the ability to make a real difference in computer reuse.

Free Computer Recycling Event a Big Hit with Locals in Washington State

Microsoft and its partners are keeping computers out of landfills in other ways as well. On Nov. 17, 2007, for instance, Dell, Intechra, and Microsoft sponsored a free computer recycling event at Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners baseball team. People in 2,700 vehicles dropped off 250 tons of computers, monitors, game consoles, and other electronic equipment, resulting in one of the top five single day computer recycling events ever held in North America. "The number of cars and the tons of waste [was] overwhelming. It easily exceeded our expectations," says Michael Walsh, environmental communication manager for Microsoft.

"We knew the event was going to be successful when we noticed people lining up two hours before the scheduled start," he said. "However, once the event got underway, we really started to understand how important the opportunity was to our community. It was amazing to see the passion of the participants: one drove-up in a decommissioned ambulance filled to the brim with old monitors while another strapped computer towers to the side of a bike and pedaled into the event."

Everything collected during the event was recycled by Intechra, a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher.

Consumers Value Opportunities to Recycle

Walsh says the response indicated how eager people are to do the right thing if they are given the chance. "Here in Washington State, most people have to pay to recycle e-waste, and some people find it difficult to locate local recycling facilities," he says.

According to Walsh, "Knowledge and cost are obstacles. We saw a drive-up, drop-off event as an easy, no-cost solution to address e-waste in our community. We thought it was important – as one of the largest employers in Seattle – to sponsor this opportunity for our community."

How You Can Make a Difference

Businesses, individuals, and organizations such as schools all can help reduce e-waste through programs that encourage safe and effective recycling of older computers and other electronics. These programs include:

Refurbishment of large volumes of computers through computer refurbishers that participate in programs, such as the Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) program.

Community MAR programs, which provide low cost licenses for refurbished computers that are supplied to educational establishments, non-profit charitable organizations, and other community users.

Rechargeable battery recycling via partners of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp (RBRC), such as Office Depot, Radio Shack, and Wal-Mart. In 2007, around 6.3 million pounds or batteries were safely disposed of through RBRC programs.

Program participation that encourages the collection and recycling of electronic items.

• Each year on America Recycles Day, dozens of events are held in communities around the United States for consumers to dispose of unwanted electronics.
• Select vendors, such as Dell, have recycling programs that allow for the free return of their branded products and many peripherals such as printers and monitors.

To make an impact, local and national governments sometimes provide additional resources that can help educate you about e-waste recycling programs:

• Local governments, such as California's Santa Cruz County, sometimes maintain Web sites that direct residents to local recycling partners and disposal sites.
• National government agencies, such as the United States Environment Protection Agency, sometimes maintain Web portals (such as eCycling) that help connect citizens with local and national e-waste recycling resources.