The Royal Household participates in a computer recycling scheme run by the charity, Computer Aid International. Rather than going to waste, old computer equipment is recycled or re-used to help schools and community organisations in the developing world.

After the hard drives have been removed from the computers and destroyed, the constituent raw materials, such as aluminium and steel, are recycled. The remaining parts of the computer are donated to Computer Aid International. They refurbish and upgrade it and then send it to developing countries where it is used in schools and community organisations, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Mali, Ethiopia and Rwanda, but also countries in Asia and South America. For example, computer equipment from Buckingham Palace has ended up in a school in Rwanda, a university in Kenya and a charity in India.

The partnership between the Royal Household and Computer Aid International has existed since 2005. Since that time, the Household has donated over 2,392 pieces of computer equipment, including 726 monitors, 914 computers and 47 laptops.

It’s the Palace’s contribution to make best use of computers once we’ve finished with them, rather than them going to waste.

Find out more about Computer Aid International