Davey Winder
Tuesday, 24 June 2008 04:12
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An unfortunate side-effect of this growth in installed
computers is the rise in churn rate that accompanies it. As users
upgrade and replace older machines, so that global base is constantly
being churned. While some are recycled, many are simply dumped in
landfill with no regard to environmental concerns.
How many? Well Gartner estimate that 16 percent
of the installed base will be replaced this year. That's a stonking 180
million PCs. Worryingly, Meike Escherich, principal research analyst at
Gartner, estimates that "a fifth of these, or some 35 million PCs, will
be dumped into landfill with little or no regard for their toxic
content."
"The disposition of retired PCs has become a high-profile issue for
many PC vendors, governments and environmental interest groups. It will
become an even more pressing issue, especially in emerging markets, as
the number of retired PCs grows with the continuing expansion of the PC
installed base" Escherich concludes.