Dell recently announced that the company intends to provide free recycling of any Dell-branded product for consumers around the world as part of its new global recycling policy, according to Information Week.

More precisely, the program initiated by Dell offers consumers no-charge recycling of any brand of used computer or printer with the purchase of a new Dell computer or printer, including home pick-up of the used computer at no charge.

"We have a responsibility to our customers to recycle the products we make and sell," said Michael Dell, chairman of Dell. "Our direct relationships with consumers allow us to offer this easy and free service and we encourage others in our industry to do so as well."

Furthermore, Dell will provide consumers no-charge recycling of any Dell-branded product, regardless of whether a replacement product is purchased.

"Dell is setting the standard for the industry with this new policy," said Kate Krebs, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition. "Recycling of used consumer electronics remains a challenge and Dell is taking concrete steps to remove the barriers of cost and inconvenience for consumers."

Today, Dell offers product recovery services to business and institutional customers in most of its major markets including Europe and North America, as Dell's Asset Recovery Services, offered to business and institutional customers, provides reverse logistics, value recovery and reporting.

The service will be available in the U.S. by September, and globally by November, and it is currently available in Europe.

Dell's U.S. consumer recycling offer is available at www.dell.com/recycling.