Last October in an announcement made by Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue, Goodwill, in partnership with Dell, proudly introduced RECONNECT, a free drop-off program for the recycling of unwanted computers. The program’s goals are two-fold: divert more than 5 million pounds of used computers and computer equipment from area landfills in the next year and provide education on the importance of environmentally responsible computer disposal.

Richard Gorham, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, welcomed the partnership, “We are pleased to be aligned with a good corporate citizen like Dell. The RECONNECT initiative is a win-win for our neighbors and our community. While we’re aware of the growing challenge that e-waste presents, we are now able to successfully recycle these materials, employ and train individuals in our market, and create a revenue stream to support the growing mission of serving a broader audience.”

By providing advertising support and operational assistance in a number of areas, Dell has continued to maintain its commitment to Goodwill Industries. Additionally, they are staying involved by seeking new ways to improve RECONNECT for all those invested in the program.  Dell continues to go beyond the expected by showing genuine concern for recycling while supporting the job training mission of Goodwill Industries.

Since its inception, the Dell RECONNECT program has enabled Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina to collect over 15,000 units of computer equipment, with a projected 25,000-collected unit count by year’s end. The Dell RECONNECT program continues to grow, indicating a successful future and an invaluable partnership with Goodwill.