It's a Monday morning in September in the basement of DTU's department of IT Service. Here, Daniel Thuesen and Julie Nørgaard Kjær, two of the main forces behind RecycleIT, are looking at a cage filled with used IT equipment. Monitors, laptops, and desktop computers are ready to get a new lease on life.
But just a few years ago, the reality looked very different.
"What we did before was completely absurd. It was just stupid," they say in unison, and continue:
"We had basements filled with old machines that just stood there collecting dust. No one really knew what to do with them. They were just hidden away, year after year."
Since the project started in November 2021, DTU's basements have been transformed from storage spaces for old computers into an example of how equipment can be reused or repurposed and contribute to helping both the environment and the climate. So far, 3,306 units have been sent for reuse, 93 percent of which have been reused, and the university has helped avoid the emission of 1,146 tons of CO2.
First internal reuse—then responsible recycling
The reuse scheme consists in practice of two separate tracks. The first priority is always to reuse the equipment internally at DTU. If an employee leaves, the computer is refurbished and given to a new colleague, if possible.
If the IT equipment can no longer be used at DTU, it is sent to external partners. Here, it is reused in schools, businesses, or by private individuals. If the equipment cannot be reused, it is dismantled so that the materials can be recycled responsibly.
"It's not just about getting rid of the equipment, but about ensuring that it is actually reused or recycled. We visit partners, check their facilities, and audit them to ensure they meet our requirements," says Peter Oppenlænder Madsen, team leader in the Department of IT Service.
As the third main person responsible for RecycleIT, he handles the project's legal and contractual aspects.
Social responsibility as added bonus
Julie Nørgaard Kjær, Sustainability Coordinator in the Finance and Accounting Department, has played a central role in the RecycleIT project from the beginning. She is responsible for ensuring that all processes around the reuse and recycling of IT equipment meet the expected standards, for example, whether the partners receiving the used IT equipment are ISO-certified.
She also keeps track of the numbers and the reports sent by partners, ensuring that DTU receives the necessary documentation for the effort. An unexpected side benefit has been the social aspect.
"Our partners take on great social responsibility by employing vulnerable groups, for example, people who have been out of the labour market for several years. It makes sense for them and we want to support good social initiatives," says Julie Nørgaard Kjær.
The vision also extends beyond just cleaning up.
"The knowledge and experience we have gained from RecycleIT, we are now using in a new public tender for the purchase of new computers," says Julie Nørgaard Kjær.
From pilot to everyday practice
Where it was once an experiment, RecycleIT has now become part of everyday life.
"It's no longer a pilot project where we send a handful of computers off every six months. Now we assess all equipment continuously: Can it be reused at DTU? Or can the equipment get a new life elsewhere?", says Daniel Thuesen, team leader in IT Support at the Department of IT Service.
The project has also led to concrete changes in DTU's systems. Now, employees can easily create a case in the DTU Service Portal if they have used IT equipment that needs to be collected.
"We now have a dedicated service category, so it's much easier to do the right thing," explains Daniel Thuesen.
Locked Devices Cannot Be Reused
Even though the results are impressive, there are still challenges. Many employees still have old computers lying in drawers—often because they are unsure whether all data has been transferred.
"The IT supporters in the IT Service Department are happy to help transfer data, so no one needs to keep old machines for fear of losing valuable data," says Daniel Thuesen.
Another challenge is locked phones and tablets, which cannot be reused if they have not been properly reset—that is, if they are locked to a user's Apple ID or Google account.
This means that even completely new and expensive devices cannot be reused, but instead must be dismantled and only recycled as materials. Peter Oppenlænder Madsen calls them "doorstops":
"We see many examples of newer and otherwise functional iPads and phones ending up worthless because they are locked," says Peter Oppenlænder Madsen.
He encourages everyone to remember to log out of their phones and tablets before handing them in for reuse.
A greener future - one device at a time
RecycleIT has shown that small initiatives can grow and make a real difference.
"It's about a change in culture. If everyone hands in their old equipment, together we can make DTU even more sustainable," says Peter Oppenlænder Madsen.
Julie Nørgaard Kjær and Daniel Thuesen nod in agreement.
"It's about taking responsibility—for the climate, for data security, and for society."
And as yet another cage fills up in the basement, it's clear that RecycleIT is no longer just a pilot project. The reuse of used IT equipment has become a natural part of the daily operations in DTU's IT department.
