Secondary PCs pose threat to emerging mkts

Demand for secondary PCs will outstrip supply for years to come, but reuse does not necessarily mean "greener" IT. According to Gartner, Inc., growing exports for reuse or recycling are leading to increasing e-waste in emerging markets.

Meike Escherich, principal research analyst, Gartner, said: "Although reuse must be considered preferable to most other forms of waste management, without effective controls, exports for reuse can be an excuse for dumping, and even in the best case result in 'passing the toxic buck' to emerging economies, which are seldom equipped to deal with this problem in an environmentally and socially responsible way."

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