Frome Town Council are hosting a tech amnesty with Somerset-based charity Donate IT at Frome Town Hall on Sunday 2nd February from 10am to 1pm. Donate IT collect, refurbish and redistribute phones, laptops, tablets and other digital devices to people who need them. Anyone with devices to donate can bring them to the drop-off point in the town hall car park to hand to the team.
Devices are securely wiped of all data using industry-standard software. Any devices that cannot be reused are disposed of responsibly within the UK. 70% of global toxic waste is linked to discarded tech in landfill, and the precious metals inside devices, such as copper and cobalt, are much more intensive and difficult to mine than they are to recycle.
Will Palmer of Donate IT said: “Did you receive a new laptop, tablet, smartphone or console for Christmas? Don’t let the old one languish in a drawer – donate it to help a stranger and give your device a new lease of life. We live in an increasingly digital world, and some of us are comfortable with that, but it definitely isn’t the case for everyone. There are many reasons why people experience digital exclusion; for some it’s lack of experience using the tech and for others, they simply can’t afford to pay for the devices they need. Donate IT exists to bridge the gap, by getting devices into the hands of people in need, offering training in digital skills, and ensuring that any devices that can’t be used are disposed of in an eco-friendly, responsible way.”
Fiona Barrows, Frome Town councillor said “Donating unwanted tech is a simple way to do a good thing for your community and for the planet – research suggests that a lot of unused tech, and phones in particular, are stored rather than thrown away. That’s obviously better than throwing them into landfill, but donating them could make a huge difference to someone – and be better for the environment. Please consider donating any unwanted devices to the Donate IT team on 2nd February.”
The Donate IT team will be in the car park at Frome Town Hall, off Park Road in Frome, from 10am to 1pm on Sunday 2nd February. In the case of extremely cold weather, the collection will move indoors; if this is the case the area will be clearly signposted. Devices can also be dropped off to Frome Town Hall throughout the year. To find out more about Donate IT and how to get digital support, or to obtain a refurbished device, visit https://donateit.co.uk/
