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EPA to deliver recycled computers

The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) said yesterday that 500 recycled computers will be delivered to low-income households nationwide today.

Cheng Chi-pu (鄭啟璞), a section chief with the EPA's Recycling Fund Management Board, said that 200 of the computers were donated by the National Taiwan University Hospital, the largest donation the administration has received.

Cheng said that the donations must include central processing units (CPUs), monitors, keyboards, mice and other equipment. Each computer must also be equipped with processors of at least Pentium III or above or those of similar specifications.

On average, five computers are needed to make one functional recycled computer, he said.

Cheng added that each computer must be tested several times before it can be delivered to a recipient. Delivery personnel also help set up the computer and teach family members how to use it. The recipients also receive a one-year warranty.

Cheng said the administration has been coordinating with the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) on the initiative for three years.

Recipients must qualify as low-income households as defined by DGBAS.

The administration previously set a delivery goal of 3,800 recycled computers this year. To reach the goal, the administration will need donations of more than 20,000 used computers.

Last year, the administration accumulated 20,407 CPUs and 17,729 monitors. As a result, 3,800 recycled computers were built.

In May, the administration entrusted the Chunghwa Institution for Economic Research (CIER) with executing the project. The institution is now in charge of accepting donations from corporations and individuals.

To improve the recycling rate for used computers, the CIER has held eight seminars around the country.

It has also recruited college students to install the computers in the homes of recipients.

The administration welcomes donations of computers or other peripherals. A list of recycling stations in Chinese can be found at recycle.cier.edu.tw/index.htm. Free pick-up is available if more than 20 computers are donated.
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