E-WASTE SERVICES

Dell Computers and Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island Launch Recycling Partnership

Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island has partnered with Dell to become one of their 2,220 'Reconnect' computer recycling sites across the nation. The agency is the only 'Reconnect' site in the state of Rhode Island and expects to recycle between 300,000 - 400,000 pounds of e-waste annually and create green jobs locally.  Dell originally established the 'Reconnect' partnership with Goodwill Industries International in 2004. Since its inception more than 170 million pounds of e-waste has been diverted from landfills and about 250 green jobs have been created. Goodwill employees manage the collection and disassembly of the equipment and the donated equipment that meets the program's quality criteria is resold. Devices in need of repair are either refurbished or broken down into parts to be recycled by Dell partners.  Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island intends to utilize this operation to support their mission of providing job training and education to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. "This is a win-win", said Jeffrey Machado, Goodwill's President and CEO. "The program allows for the agency to expand and enhance its training programs so we can prepare trainees for high wage, high demand occupations in emerging industries while also supporting an eco-friendly, social purpose business line", added Machado. 

Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island is a non- profit organization that provides education and job training to youth and adults with disabilities and other barriers to employment, such as chronic unemployment, welfare dependency, low education and limited skills, to increase quality of life and work.