The Alliance for Technology Refurbishing and Reuse (AFTRR), a national network of nonprofit technology refurbishers that operates as an arm of the National Cristina Foundation (NCF), this week announced it is looking for technology partners to participate in an IT asset disposition initiative.
Rather than returning used gear to a vendor or distributor for disposal or trying to resell it on the grey market, AFTRR is inviting solution providers and their customers to donate IT equipment to its network of refurbishers, says NCF executive director Scot Henley.
In the wake of Arrow deciding to exit the IT asset disposal business for PC and mobile computing devices, Henley is betting there will be more than a few solution providers looking for alternative services.
Refurbishers affiliated with AFTRR first attempt to refurbish equipment to pass it on to various charities as a way to help narrow the digital divide, say Henley. If the equipment can’t be salvaged, the refurbishers will then take it apart to salvage any components that might still have value. The rest of the equipment will then be recycled.
In addition to making IT equipment available to charities and reducing IT waste, Henley notes solution providers and their customers can usually avail themselves of a tax donation based on the value they ascribe to the IT equipment being donated.
“We like to call that a win-win-win,” says Henley.
Recycling IT equipment as not as profitable as it once was and many companies that specialize in that activity are now finding it difficult to find places willing to recycle IT equipment, notes Henley. Those two issues will require solution providers to find more creative ways to deal with aging IT equipment, says Henley. AFTRR members provide full ranges of services, ranging from walk-in technology donations from individuals to enterprise-level corporate contracts, adds Henley.
It’s not clear to what degree a non-profit approach to refurbishing equipment will have on a segment of the channel that has existed for years. However, there are plenty of good social and economic reasons solution providers just might want to consider all the available options.
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