6.15.2006 - 09:45am ET

(CSRwire) SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 15, 2006--Goodwill Industries of San Diego County and Dell (NASDAQ:DELL) today introduced Reconnect San Diego, a free drop-off program for recycling of unwanted computers.

The pilot program will help protect the environment through the responsible recycling of computer equipment, and provide area residents a convenient opportunity to support a local non-profit organization.

Reconnect San Diego takes advantage of the existing donation and retail infrastructure of Goodwill and the recycling experience and resources of Dell to offer a proactive, community-based solution to environmentally responsible electronics disposal.

The goal of the pilot program is to divert at least two million pounds of used computers and computer equipment from landfills over one year and to provide consumer education on the importance of proper computer disposal -- while creating job opportunities for individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers.

Beginning today, San Diego residents can call toll-free, 1-888-4-GOODWILL or 1-866-48 REUSE (73873), or visit www.reconnectpartnership.com or www.sdgoodwill.org, to locate the most convenient drop-off location at any of the 24 local Goodwill donation centers and retail stores.

Goodwill will sort the donated computer equipment, which will be responsibly recycled through the Dell Asset Recovery Services value recovery program. Dell's authorized product recovery partner will remarket the recycled materials, such as plastics, glass and metals, and all sales proceeds will go to Goodwill to support the non-profit's job training and employment services programs.

Residents are responsible for removing data from hard drives and other storage media before donating to Goodwill, and state law requires that all donors sign a statement about the use of the computer equipment being donated. Goodwill staff will provide donors with a tax receipt at the time of donation.

"This new alliance will really expand our existing electronics recycling program and further Goodwill's mission at the same time,"
said Mike Rowan, CEO of Goodwill Industries of San Diego County.
"Working with Dell will help us ensure we are implementing the latest environmentally sound recycling practices."

"Working with San Diego's Goodwill on this project highlights Dell's commitment to making computer recycling easy and affordable for consumers, said Shawn Dennis, Dell vice president of global branding. "Our alliance with Goodwill is designed to be scalable and we're confident it will eventually serve as a model other communities may voluntarily adopt."

San Diego's Goodwill is a recognized leader in environmentally responsible programs. It received a City of San Diego Waste Reduction and Recycling Award in 2001 and 2003 and a California Integrated Waste Management Board's Waste Reduction Award (WRAP) in 2002 and 2003.

Reconnect San Diego is the latest in a series of Dell environmental initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of responsibly recycling computers and increase recycling participation rates. Dell has partnered with governments, non-profits and other businesses to identify new ways to increase electronics recycling volumes.

Other Reconnect pilot programs are under way with Goodwill Industries organizations in Central Texas, Michigan and the San Francisco Bay area.

About Goodwill Industries of San Diego County

Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, founded in 1930, is an autonomous local not-for-profit organization, one of several hundred separate legal organizations in the United States and Canada operating under the Goodwill name. San Diego's Goodwill offers a state certified on-the-job training program, and a CARF (California Rehabilitation Facility) certified supported employment program designed to assist people with disabilities and life situations that have prevented employment success. Thousands of San Diegans have transitioned from Goodwill programs and government assistance into employment in the community and self-sufficiency over the past decade. Four Goodwill Employment Centers offer free job search and job matching services to everyone in the community. Goodwill operates a National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) certified secure document destruction business, a fee for service assembly operation, nine retail stores, two training centers, an outlet/auction facility, and employs nearly 500 San Diegans each year. Goodwill is supported primarily through the collection, processing and sale of donated goods. For more information, visit www.sdgoodwill.org.

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ:DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services they trust and value. Uniquely enabled by its direct business model, Dell sells more systems globally than any computer company, placing it No. 25 on the Fortune 500. Company revenue for the past four quarters was $56.7 billion. For more information, visit www.dell.com. To get Dell news direct, visit www.dell.com/RSS.

Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc.

Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.


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