Why Give Computers?
Data Security
UK Government Standards
We wipe computers to UK Government standards using accredited software. We perform certified secure data erasure on all donated devices by using market-leading Blancco software which is certified by ADISA and recommended by NATO. Using Blancco’s latest certified version of software we can always ensure erasure to the highest standard, including HMG Infosec Standard No. 5 (the ‘Higher Standard’).
Alternative Data Destruction Standards
We can also meet several other data destruction standards as required, including NIST 800-88 Purge and US DoD 5220.22-M. You can find our policy on data destruction here.
We also provide transparency with data destruction certificates for HDDs, SSDs and other data-bearing devices, detailing the make, model and serial number of all devices that are erased.
SHREDDING OF HARD DRIVES
Hard disk drives (HDDs) that are faulty or that cannot be wiped of data are physically destroyed. If required we can also provide on-site shredding of hard drives including solid-state drives (SSDs).
enviromental impact
Ethical Solutions
We aim to provide the most ethical solution to IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), both socially and environmentally. Even before a desktop computer is switched on for the first time, 50% of its lifecycle fossil fuels have already been consumed in manufacturing it. This embodied carbon can be even higher for other IT devices, going as high as 80% for laptops. Therefore, through reusing computers we are reducing unnecessary production, reducing the associated carbon emissions and providing a green solution. We have based the following statistics on conversion factors calculated by the Centre for Sustainability Accounting and the Stockholm Environment Institute. These are the same factors used by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Extending The Life Of PCs
Through our circular economy solution every classroom we supply extends the life of 20 PCs. This gives carbon savings of 6 tonnes of CO2e, which is the equivalent of planting 14 trees, or nearly offsetting 1 person’s carbon footprint in the UK.
Energy Savings
This creates energy savings as continuing to use an old computer exceeds the benefit from any potential energy efficiency gain from replacing it. Looking at embodied energy, replacing a PC cannot be considered on environmental grounds until the computer is at least 16 years old. Therefore, the energy savings made from just one classroom of 20 PCs of 17.4 MWh is enough to power 324 TVs for a year.
IT Refurbishment Workshop
At our IT refurbishment workshop in Edinburgh, we wipe all computers (detailed below) and refurbish computers for reuse in schools. Anything that cannot be reused is properly recycled at an authorised WEEE facility in the UK through our downstream partners. We take full responsibility for equipment and ensure that 0% of your e-waste goes to landfill. The Turing Trust is SEPA Registered. License Number: WML/XC/1166345.
Preparation
We prepare the computers for schools with educational content and distribute the equipment to schools and charitable organisations, provide teacher training on the use of the computers, maintenance support and at the end of life, be it in Malawi or the UK, ensure that equipment is properly recycled through accredited downstream partners.
social impact
Creating Opportunities
We aim to provide the most ethical solution to IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), both environmentally and socially. Every computer that is donated can provide numerous students with the opportunity to learn IT skills for the first time. For example, each PC that we install in a computer laboratory gives 18 students the chance to start learning computer studies at their school.
Transformational Skills
Learning IT skills can be transformational as digital skills are needed to attend university. Our monitoring and evaluation work has shown that, after enhancing their learning experiences with donated computers, 20% more students were gaining places at university.
Economic Impact
Giving students a chance to learn digital skills also has a tremendous economic impact as it opens up new work opportunities. On average those with IT skills are able to increase their incomes by 39%.
Meeting The Highest Standards In The UK
We work with our ADISA, R2v3 and ISO accredited partners, to ensure that we can meet the highest standards for IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) in the UK. We are able to provide the highest level of secure disposal processes whilst still being able to maximise the social and environmental benefits of reusing donated IT equipment.
With our partners we can protect your businesses interests through the most comprehensive data destruction services available in the UK. With our partners we offer:
- Full UK coverage with European and global capacity
- Comprehensive audit reporting supplied
- On and offsite data sanitisation and destruction service options
- Zero-landfill policy
- R2v3 Responsible Recycling Certified
- ADISA accreditation to Distinction level
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 & ISO 27001 accreditation
- Blancco Technology Group Gold Partner
- Environment Agency certification
- Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation
Tailored To Your Project
We’ll work with you to devise the most efficient and cost-effective solution.
We can carry out IT Decommission works to best suit you, including out of hours and weekend work.
We’re flexible and will do everything we can to deliver a seamless experience.
We can recycle broken IT equipment in accordance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive that is unsuitable for refurbishment.
Meeting Every Need
Our support combines all of our sector skills and expertise. Our team looks after the complete process for you, from powering down your old equipment to removal from site, data wiping and recycling or reuse.
You’ll meet all the relevant data protection (GDPR) and environmental legislation and have full documentation to demonstrate compliance.
Ready to give computers?
Click on one of the buttons below for either a business or individual donation to start donating your equipment now.
Join Our IT Donors
Hundreds of companies and organisations of all sizes have trusted us with their IT equipment and our hassle-free secure asset disposal service that helps schools by professionally refurbishing computers. We guarantee to handle your confidential data with the highest level of security and provide an audit trail. Here are just a few of the organisations who have recently donated computers, laptops, monitors and other IT equipment. You can also find a more complete list detailing the wide variety of organisations who have trusted us by donating equipment by clicking here.
WHAT IT EQUIPMENT WE ACCEPT
We can reuse most IT equipment less than 10 years old that you can imagine being used in a school – desktops, laptops, projectors.
Before sending equipment on our list, please always enter a few details on our individual or business donation forms about your IT donation.
We welcome any donations of computers and laptops which are able to run Windows 10, or MacOS 12 Monterey, or above.
Please see below for the most common items of IT equipment that we can reuse and check out our longer list here. There are many more items beyond this list that we can also reuse so please contact us with any queries to see how your equipment could go on to make a difference.
Computers
- Desktop PCs
- Laptops with their chargers
Computer Parts and Spares
- Hard Drives
- RAM
Accessories
- Monitors with stands
- Cables for connecting displays to computers e.g. DVI, HDMI, VGA
- Keyboards & Mice (Wired)
- Headphones & speakers
- Projectors (VGA, HDMI or Displayport)
- Power cables; e.g. kettle leads, clover leads, figure-of-8 leads
- Network switches with 8-80 ports
What we don't accept
Related to our focus on what is most needed in the communities we serve, we don’t accept:
- PCs that aren’t able to run the operating systems mentioned above,
- Mobile phones (smart/non-smart), tablets/iPads, VoIP phones, Landline phones,
- Servers, Network Automated Storage (NAS)
- Modems, Access Points, Routers and networking equipment unless mentioned above
- TVs, Cameras, Smartboards, Monitors without stands, Webcams, Printers, Scanners, Laptop locks, UPS, faxes, plotters
If you would like us to recycle your broken equipment as part of your organisation’s donation we can arrange for this with your collection.
Many more items we have not listed that can often be reused. Please contact us to see how your equipment can make a difference.
Ready to give computers?
Click on one of the buttons below for either a business or individual donation to start donating your equipment now.
WHERE TO FIND US
Our workshop
Our workshop is at Unit 7C, Pentland Industrial Estate, Loanhead, EH20 9QH.
Sending equipment
If you would like to send us your equipment, please first give us details of your donation using the individual or business donation forms.
Local drop-off
Donations can be dropped off only by prior arrangement. Drop-off times are typically Monday-Friday 10:00 am-4:30 pm.
Questions ?
Frequently Asked Questions for Business Donations
Can you collect my equipment ?
Yes, we can offer a free collection service UK-wide for large donations from businesses and organisations. If you require your equipment to be collected please let us know using our Business Donations Form
For individual donations please see our individual donations FAQ.
how much does it cost ?
We can help you to save money on your e-waste management costs. We provide a free data destruction service for donations over 20 PCs, allowing your organisation to achieving compliance with all local and international data security, environmental and industry regulations.
We offer a free collection service UK-wide for large volume donations.
For smaller donations a collection would be chargeable on a cost recovery basis. Alternatively, you’re welcome to arrange your own collection and send your equipment with a courier or drop your equipment at our workshop.
For individual donations please see our individual individual donations FAQ.
will you wipe my devices ?
Yes, every device we receive goes through our data destruction process. We wipe computers to UK Government standards using accredited software. We perform certified, secure data erasure on all donated devices by using market-leading Blancco data erasure software. Blancco software is certified by ADISA and recommended by NATO.
Using Blancco’s latest certified version of software we can always ensure erasure to the highest standard, including HMG Infosec Standard No. 5 (the ‘higher Standard’), is maintained in line with technological advances.
We can also meet several other data destruction standards as required, including NIST 800-88 Purge and US DoD 5220.22-M. You can find our policy on data destruction here.
We provide transparency with data destruction certificates for HDDs, SSDs and other data-bearing devices, detailing the make, model and serial number of all devices that are erased.
Hard disks that are faulty or that cannot be wiped of data are physically destroyed. If required we can also provide on-site shredding of hard drives.
We also accept donations of PCs where the hard drives have been removed.
what documentation do you provide?
We provide transparency and assurance with data destruction certificates for HDDs, SSDs, and other data-bearing devices, detailing the make, model and serial number of devices that are erased.
We wipe computers to UK Government standards using accredited software. We perform certified secure data erasure on donated devices by using market-leading Blancco software which is certified by ADISA and recommended by NATO. Using Blancco’s latest certified version of software we can always ensure erasure to the highest standard, including HMG Infosec Standard No. 5 (the ‘Higher Standard’).
We can also meet several other data destruction standards as required, including NIST 800-88 Purge and US DoD 5220.22-M. You can find our policy on data destruction here.
We are fully compliant with legal obligations under the Environmental Agency regulations, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, Data Protection (including GDPR), Hazardous Waste and Duty of Care. We will provide you with all the documentation you need to provide an audit trail to demonstrate your compliance to all the relevant data protection and environmental legislation.
Do you provide social and environmental impact reporting?
Yes, we provide social and environmental impact reporting through our donation tracking mechanisms. This enables you to demonstrate the impact your donation makes in terms of the carbon savings made as well as the number of students benefiting from your devices.
We can also provide bespoke reporting as required, as well as pictures featuring your company logo, helping you demonstrate the impact of your support.
Are you compliant with waste, environmental and data protection legislation?
Yes, we are fully compliant with legal obligations under the Environmental Agency regulations, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive, Data Protection (including GDPR), Hazardous Waste and Duty of Care. Process audits are performed to ensure complete compliance.
We will provide you with all the documentation you need to provide an audit trail to demonstrate your compliance to all the relevant data protection and environmental legislation.
The Turing Trust is registered with SEPA. License Number: WML/XC/1197908.
Do you have ISO accreditation?
Working with our partners we provide an IT disposal solution that meets every requirement and still enables the maximum benefit towards the charity.
In doing so we can provide a solution with the following accreditations:
- ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 & ISO 45001 accreditation
- Asset Disposal and Information Security Alliance (ADISA) accreditation to Distinction level
- Environment Agency certification
- Blancco Technology Group Gold Partner
- Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation
- Full UK coverage with European and global capacity
- DBS-cleared personnel and a fleet of GPS tracked vehicles
- Comprehensive audit reporting supplied
- On and offsite data sanitisation and destruction service options
- Zero-landfill policy
- R2 v3 Responsible Recycling Certified
Can you provide a bespoke or one-stop IT asset disposition solution?
Yes. Leveraging our global ITAD partnerships, we can deliver a secure and accredited one-stop solution. This means all your redundant IT equipment is uplifted and processed to your preferred Data Destruction Standard, after which our beneficiaries receive what can be reused, whilst everything else is compliantly recycled.
Please contact us with any queries and to donate you IT equipment today.
Do you send all donated equipment to schools?
On receiving your donation your equipment will be assessed for reuse. Suitable items will be refurbished and sent to schools to support the education of disadvantaged students or similar charities. Items that are unsuitable for use in schools or charitable organisations will be refurbished and sold to generate funds to support the charity’s costs. Any items that cannot be reused will be recycled at an authorised WEEE recycling facility.
What are your terms of service?
All donated data-bearing devices are processed in line with our Data Destruction Policy, which ensures secure, complete removal of any sensitive data as well as compliance with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Please visit our Terms and Conditions for full details on how your donation will be processed.
What other donated items can be reused?
We can use a really broad range of IT equipment in our mission to equip schools with everything that they need. You can see the full list of equipment we can accept here.
My device is quite old. Can it still help?
We can typically only reuse devices that are less than 10 years old. This is to ensure that security patches are available, and that the required educational software will be supported.
If your devices are not within the minimum requirements as detailed on our Call for Equipment, but they are still in great condition, please fill in one of the forms below as detailed as possible and we’ll happily look into whether we can accept your donation.
How can I send you donations of IT equipment?
Send Your Equipment
To begin our hassle-free donations process please give us a few details of your donation using the buttons for either business or individual donations.
Local Drop-off
Donations can be dropped-off at our premises at Unit 7C, Pentland Industrial Estate, Loanhead, EH20 9QH, by prior arrangement. Please use the donations forms for a business or individual below to arrange your visit in advance.
Drop off times: Monday – Friday, 10.00am – 4.30pm.
For individual donations please see our Individual Donations FAQ.
What if I’m donating as an Individual or from a Household?
We welcome donations of all sizes from individuals and households as well as organisations – even just a single cable helps us to get more computers into classrooms!
For individual donations please see our Individual Donations FAQ.
Other ways to help
donate
Every donation is pivotal to enabling our work, making the digital world accessible to those who need it most.
volunteer
Volunteering with The Turing Trust is an opportunity to try something new, learn new skills, and meet new people.
