Interfacing With Dell

Activists with Texas Campaign for the Environment and the Computer TakeBack Campaign handed out literature to investors attending Dell Computer's shareholders meeting last Thursday at the Austin Convention Center. Activists also attended the meeting, on behalf of shareholders, and quizzed Michael Dell about his company's efforts to recycle computers when they become obsolete. (Photo By John Anderson)

Texas Campaign for the Environment and other supporters of the Computer TakeBack Campaign took their cause to the Convention Center last Thursday, confronting Dell Computer founder Michael Dell at Dell's annual shareholders meeting. Several activists and shareholders asked Dell if his company would take greater responsibility for preventing the heavy metals and other toxic materials commonly found in obsolete computers from ending up in landfills or unsafe salvaging operations. (See "Dude, Are You Recycling?" May 31)

Their success might charitably be described as "mixed." Shareholders in attendance, who numbered in the hundreds, expressed limited patience for TCE's line of questioning. While the crowd politely listened to the first three queries about recycling, they let out a collective groan when TCE Executive Director Robin Schneider introduced herself, and some spectators booed when they realized she intended to pursue the topic. When other activists followed Schneider, an audience member shouted, "Next question!"

The first activist who spoke up, Judith Rosenberg, explained the campaign's position: that Dell needs to recycle more aggressively. Dell responded by reiterating his company's existing takeback programs for high-volume institutional clients and its upcoming program for individual consumers, to be introduced in the fall. He also claimed that consumers can be the biggest obstacle. "In the U.S., we'll take back any [Dell] computer," Dell said. "The only cost to the consumer is the shipping. The program is essentially voluntary. Since we've implemented it, we've recycled millions of computers, but many consumers don't [participate], including in Europe." In many parts of Europe, computer manufacturers are required by law to take back obsolete machines. Dell said the company has given its suppliers a list of banned materials, and will try to educate consumers about their options.

When Schneider asked Dell if his company would consider joining a consortium of computer manufacturers in forming an industry-wide takeback program -- which would free the companies from the worry of being at a competitive disadvantage -- Dell said, "Absolutely." But Schneider asserted that such negotiations are already under way -- and Dell hasn't participated. "Other manufacturers are looking at each other and saying, 'What will we do if Dell won't participate?'" she said. Dell replied that he's recently spoken to the CEOs of several rival companies, and "they didn't say anything" about such a program. The crowd of shareholders applauded loudly.

After the meeting, Schneider acknowledged the crowd's hostility, but said, "I think we raised the issue in their minds. You don't make change by being friends with everybody." For more about the Computer TakeBack Campaign, go to www.grrn.org/e-scrap/Dell_TakeBack_Report.pdf.