Dell revamps recycling program

Dell Computer on Wednesday said it is revamping its recycling program to make it easier and cheaper for customers to salvage outdated machines. The company said its updated Asset Recovery Services will give its business and public sector customers the option of recycling or reselling old computer equipment when they purchase new machines for as little as $49.

The move comes a week after the Round Rock, Texas-based computer maker severed its contract with Unicor, a company that used inmates to help disassemble the machines. Environmental activists and workers rights groups had blasted the practice. Two weeks ago, the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition issued a scathing report about the Unicor program, saying conditions were unsafe.