Recycled Computers 
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How do you recycle computers in an environmentally friendly and productive way?  This is a problem many organizations, big and small, have to deal with when the average lifecycle (3-5 years) of their computer hardware expires.  Many computers are still in a workable condition and can either be recycled or reused. At the other end of the scale many NGOs do not have the resources to buy new computers and they are in desperate need of technology to improve the way they work and make a contribution to society. 

Refurbished computers are now available in many markets.  In Morocco and Nigeria, for instance, one third of PC’s acquired by business, schools and non-profits are second-hand.  Through the Microsoft Authorised Refurbished (MAR) and Community Microsoft Authorised Refurbisher (Community MAR) programs, Microsoft is supporting expansion of the secondary PC ecosystem in Africa and across the world.  For a nominal fee, qualified for-profit and non-profit organisations can install genuine Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office system software on refurbished computers in a variety of local languages.  These PCs are then sold or donated to local schools and community organizations. At the end of 2007 there were more than 1,000 Community MAR’s in over 60 countries.