Responsible Operations

Striving Toward Zero Waste — Reducing, Reusing and Recycling at Dell

Waste avoidance is at the heart of Dell's approach to sustainable operations. And while absolute zero waste may be unrealistic, we believe manufacturing leaders should strive for this goal — we certainly do. Dell sees waste avoidance as a key element of operational efficiency. We aim to increase waste recycling and reuse to 99 percent by 2012. Here's a look at waste reduction at Dell and an overview of the waste we do generate.

Reusing and Recycling

In fiscal year (FY) 2011, our global manufacturing and fulfillment facilities maintained a high recycle and reuse rate: 95.7 percent of nonhazardous solid waste (most of the solid waste generated at Dell facilities is nonhazardous). A small amount of waste-to-energy incineration (about 2 percent in FY11) is included in this figure.

The bulk of our nonhazardous waste is related to the packaging used to transport parts that go into Dell IT products. Materials include cardboard, wood, paper, plastics, foam and metal. Some of this waste can be reused on-site if it meets quality and regulatory requirements (such as pallets and slip sheets). The rest is taken to off-site recycling facilities.

As the chart below shows, in FY11, the amount of total nonhazardous manufacturing waste generated dropped sharply — by 17,212 metric tons or 32.5 percent — compared with FY10. Much of that reduction can be attributed to site closures and/or transfers of work to original design manufacturers (ODMs). Our labs, offices and call centers — which generate considerably less waste — are also working to reduce waste and recycle more.
For example, Dell facilities in many locations have adjusted printers to default to double-sided printing in an effort to reduce waste. Pilot studies completed in FY09 in central Texas have shown that paper usage can be reduced by 25 percent just by taking this simple step. In addition, some locations have installed centralized recycling collection stations to encourage employees to separate materials for easier recycling.

Negligible Hazardous and Regulated Waste

Our manufacturing processes normally use only small quantities of hazardous materials, and therefore generate very small quantities of hazardous and regulated wastes. Cleaning, repair and maintenance on equipment and buildings generate minor amounts of wastes, such as used oil, spent mercury-containing light bulbs, aerosol cleaners and paints, solder waste and spent batteries. All of these items are recycled and/or disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations.

Computer-related scrap materials from manufacturing and retired office IT equipment are managed through our own recycling programs.

Non-hazardous Waste 

Air Emissions Continue To Be Low

Our manufacturing processes do not use significant amounts of hazardous materials. Therefore, Dell generates negligible amounts of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone-depleting compounds and other air pollutants — amounts that are well under reporting requirements.

Minor sources of air emissions from Dell operations include the testing and use of emergency standby electrical generators, leaks in air-conditioning systems, and combustion by-products from small gas-fired water and space-heating systems. Other minor emissions come from company-owned or company-leased maintenance and security vehicles (at larger campuses), and from routine building and equipment maintenance.

Insignificant Discharges to Water Systems

Most Dell facilities are located in urban or suburban areas that provide municipal sewer collection and treatment. In some locations, Dell operates on-site sanitary sewage treatment or pretreatment systems. Wastewater is generated from water used in cafeterias and canteens, restrooms, building heating and cooling systems, janitorial cleaning, and facility maintenance. Dell manufacturing processes do not use water and therefore do not generate industrial wastewater. In some cases, treated wastewater effluent is used for landscape irrigation.

Stormwater runoff at many Dell facilities is directed to on-site or municipal storm drain systems, ponds or other devices, as determined by local codes.

No Hazardous Material Releases

During FY11, there were no significant spills or reportable releases of hazardous materials into the environment at Dell facilities. Hazardous materials used in larger Dell locations may include fuel stored in tanks and in vehicles, hydraulic fluid used in trash compactors and refrigerants in air-conditioning equipment.

There were no environmental fines or penalties assessed by government agencies during FY11.