Digital Inclusion Scheme
Can your business donate unwanted IT equipment and help tackle digital poverty in Bristol?
Digital Inclusion Scheme
The Digital Inclusion Scheme donates free computers, laptops and mobile phones to schools, charities, and marginalised communities. The devices and IT equipment are donated via the drop off points at our Household Reuse and Recycling Centres and via our computer recycling collection service.
The Digital Inclusion Scheme has so far donated over 3,500 devices over the past 3 years. This includes Laptops, mobile phones, tablets and desktops all improving digital access for thousands of Bristol residents.
If your organisation needs free IT equipment and you meet the criteria, please call today and speak to a member of the team – 01174 406 681.
The scheme is backed by Bristol City Council.
How does the scheme work?
Collection of IT equipment
You can donate to the Digital Inclusion Scheme by taking your old tech to Bristol’s Household Reuse and Recycling Centres and use the IT Reuse donation point.
Businesses can apply for free collection of unwanted working computers and IT equipment (criteria apply).
Alternatively, we can collect IT equipment that is not eligible for the scheme, but charges apply.
The items eligible for free collection and data destruction include:
- 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
Delete data, test, and check specifications
We carefully check and remove all data from the computers and adhere to strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment recycling (WEEE) regulations.
Secure data destruction ensures that once data is deleted it is unrecoverable by any means. We’re audited annually by third party auditors that validate our security practices.
Delivery of free tech
After you’ve applied and been accepted for the Digital Inclusion Scheme, we can organise collection, or delivery of the computers and other tech to charities and schools with Bristol addresses (subject to demand, availability, and location).
Minimum specification of donated items
All computer devices distributed in the Digital Inclusion Scheme come with Windows 10 or 11 or Chrome. The minimum specification is an i5 Processor and 8GB RAM, 240GB SSD.
Who has received computers?
We give laptops, computers and phones to charities, organisations, and schools across Bristol. All the IT donations support digital inclusion. Since the project started, we’ve donated over 3,000 devices.
When we asked Mat Grafton, Head of Year 11 at Orchard School, how he planned to use the school’s donated computers, he explained:
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
