Germany – computer recycling project gives PCs new lease of life

The Technical University (TU) of Berlin aims to become a sustainable university with help from the ReUse Computer project.



The TU Berlin has recently taken delivery of its first ReUse computer, which also heralds new cooperation between the TU Berlin and the Re-Use Computer Association. The university hopes to save EUR600,000 over the next three years by using reconditioned computers from ReUse alongside new PCs and software.



The ReUse Computer project, which is supported by the Federal Ministry of Science, Education and Research, provides a new lease of life for old computers. The project is managed by Kubus, the cooperation and consulting centre for environmental issues, part of TU Berlin‘‘s Centre for Cooperation (ZEK). Specialist computer firms offer customers an attractive ReUse package, which includes disposal of their old computers, the supply of reconditioned ones, as well as a software service and advice. The price of ReUse hardware is between 30 and 50% of that of new equipment.



Working together with the Institute for Product Life Cycle Research, TU Berlin‘‘s ReUse project was tested on a commercial scale. As a result, the participating companies founded the ReUse Computer Association and took sole responsibility for continuation of the work.



The amount of energy required to produce one PC is equivalent to driving from Berlin to Munich (approx 510 miles). By recycling a PC, approximately 13% of the energy can be recovered by thermal treatment of the plastics and reclamation of metal. The remaining 87% is irretrievably lost as soon as the PC is disposed of. By reconditioning old PCs, ReUse is able to reclaim 100% of the production energy. In 2002, at least two million computers changed owners. If every one of these two million PCs could delay the purchase of a new computer by a year, then approximately 470 gigawatt hours of primary energy could be saved, according to scientists from TU Berlin‘‘s Institute for Product Life Cycle Research.



In times of financial hardship, ReUse computer is being increasingly considered by the private sector as well as the civil service. For the TU Berlin and its 6000 employees, who spend a large proportion of their time working at computers, the potential for sustainable development is considerable.



With the new agreement, the TU Berlin is able to follow its own environmental guidelines, which were set in 1997. In the areas of research and training, environmental issues are receiving wider interest. The university now offers seminars for engineers to collaborative research centres specialising in resource recovery in project and material life cycles