Digital Inclusion Scheme

Can your business donate unwanted IT equipment and help tackle digital poverty in Bristol?

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Digital Inclusion Scheme

Our Digital Inclusion Scheme donates computers, laptops and mobile phones to schools, charities, and marginalised communities.

The devices and IT equipment are donated via our Household Reuse and Recycling Centres and business IT asset disposal service.

So far we’ve donated over 3,500 devices over the past 3 years, including laptops, mobile phones, tablets and desktops, all improving digital access for thousands of Bristol residents.

Apply now if your organisation needs free IT equipment.

Apply now
Request computers for a school or charity
Donate used computers and IT equipment
See the impact we're having in Bristol

How does the scheme work?

Two IT reuse crews standing next to their big white collection van

Donating IT equipment

Members of the public can donate to the Digital Inclusion Scheme by taking their old tech to Bristol’s Household Reuse and Recycling Centres and using the IT Reuse donation point. 

Businesses can use our IT asset disposal service for their unwanted working computers and IT equipment (criteria applies). 

IT equipment being collected to be reused

Items we donate

  • Laptops, desktop, and Apple Mac computers
  • Mobile phones and tablets
  • Re-usable electronics
  • Routers, switches, servers  and networking equipment 
  • Monitors
  • Boxed, unused toner 

Click here to find out about the specifications required for donating

 

Man carrying computer tower

Apply for your organisation

Check our the eligibility criteria and fill out an application form at the bottom of this page

Eligibility criteria:

  • Charity or School
  • Located within the Bristol area
  • Bristol resident (more information below)

We’ll get back in contact with you to let you know if you’re eligible or not.

 

Somebody removing a new reused computer from a van

Delivery of free tech

Once we’ve received the IT equipment, we securely wipe the data, test the equipment and prepare ready for delivery.

We then organise a delivery of the computers and other tech to charities and schools who are waiting for donations.

Apply now

Apply now to receive free IT equipment for your organisation.

Apply now
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Who's received devices so far?

We give laptops, computers and phones to charities, organisations, and schools across Bristol.

Since the project started, we’ve donated over 3,500 devices – all supporting digital inclusion.

Bristol Waste team collects donated IT equipment

Computers for refugees

We’re supporting Bristol City Council with a scheme to provide access to computers for Ukrainian refugees. A total of 50 computers are in 16 ‘welcome hubs’ across Bristol for refugees to speak with their families, look for new work opportunities and access educational materials. 

A shelf full of hundreds of laptops that will be used in the Digital Inclusion Scheme

Laptop donations

Since 2020 we’ve been working with Bristol City Council to deliver reused laptops to homes where they have the biggest positive impact. 

Bristol residents who fall into any of the following eligibility categories can apply to access the scheme (one device per household): 

  • Being of pensionable age
  • Have a disability 
  • Are full-time carers 
  • Receive means-tested benefits 
  • Have a child at school receiving free school meals
  • Are on a very low income 
Read more
A man and a women smiling holding a desktop computer and keyboard inside a classroom

“The 10 PCs donated from Bristol Waste’s Digital Inclusion Scheme will replace old equipment that is nearly 20 years old. The replacements will allow the Year 11 students to complete homework and project work through the day and after school hours. A lot of the students do not have computers at home so this will be a great addition to the Year 11 block.

A lot of the students do not have computers at home so this will be a great addition to the Year 11 Block.”

Mat Grafton, Head of year 11 at Orchard School

Tim Jones, Stockwood scouts

Stuart Phelps, Baggator

Greg Bath, St Joseph's Catholic School

Rebecca Sheehy, Bristol After Stroke

Jachie Eddy, Hartcliffe Club for Young People

Lauren Oram, Henleaze Infant School

Shane Raines, Brenty and Henbury Childrens Centre

Bethan Howe, One25

Ian Fielder and Paul Jayson, Lawrence Weston Community Farm

Thanks to our equipment donors

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston
ARUP group
Applied Market Information Ltd
Immersive Labs
CareDocs
Protection Group International

Apply for a reused device from the Digital Inclusion Scheme

Please complete the form to apply for a reused device for your organisation. We will contact you if you are eligible.

Please enter your company name
Only enter if you are a registered charity.

FAQs – Digital Inclusion Scheme

Digital poverty is the limited access to the Internet or a digital device. This can create difficulties in accessing education, employment opportunities and even friends or family. By pledging to donate working IT devices that we collect to charities, schools, and marginalised computers, we hope to improve digital inclusion across Bristol. 

Please visit your local Household Reuse and Recycling Centre and go to the IT Reuse donation point to donate any electrical items to the Digital Inclusion Scheme. If your devices are not in working order, we can still recycle the components.

You can donate: 

  •  Laptops, desktop, and Apple Mac computers (no older than 5 years) 
  • Mobile phones and tablets (Apple, Google and iCloud accounts must be removed from devices) 
  • Re-usable electronics – this does not include Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)  
  • Routers, switches, servers  and networking equipment 
  • Monitors (minimum 24” and in working condition) 
  • Boxed, unused toner 

We can use parts from broken devices to make other computers work and can remove parts to sell on eBay. The money raised through sales helps support our reuse and also local charity work. Parts that cannot be used will be recycled. 

Complete this form and we will be in touch: Digital Inclusion Scheme – Bristol Waste Company

If you’re a business or an organisation with lots of equipment, we may be able to pick up the equipment from you for free (minimum criteria apply).

Please complete this form: 

Bristol residents can bring computers, laptops, phones, and other tech, to a Household Reuse and Recycling Centre IT Reuse Donation Point, and we will do the rest. 

At Bristol Waste we’re certified to safely collect, wipe, test, reuse and recycle IT equipment.  

Our IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) service is a secure and environmentally-friendly way to dispose of used, excess or redundant IT. We also adhere to strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations. 

ITAD aims to extend the lifecycle of IT equipment by reusing, repurposing, and repairing retired assets. 

We are audited annually by third-party auditors that validate our security practices. 

Dedicated hardware ensures data is deleted and unrecoverable using any means. 

We hold ISO 27001 and BS EN 15713 certification. 

Please call us to discuss any specific needs or requests on 0117 440 6681.