Why we’ve donated 818 computers to ITSA Digital Trust
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Since 1995, Ecotricity has been working to end fossil fuels and make Britain greener. It’s not just about energy, though – the breadth and depth of our work on green issues is unmatched.
As part of this, we’re proud to showcase the work of The ITSA Digital Trust, a computer recycling charity that’s given access to digital education to over 6.6 million people. We don’t believe in letting old IT equipment gather dust in cupboards warehouse or, worse, end up as landfill.
The digital world is all around us but for some people, lack of access to technology means they are being left behind. ITSA are working to redress this balance in both the UK and Africa.
At the same time, E-waste is one of the fastest-growing kinds of waste on the planet - when we throw away a piece of tech, particularly into landfill, we’re also discarding the energy and raw materials that went into making it.
In the UK, digital deprivation is dividing society into groups who can use technology effectively and those who cannot. ITSA’s TECH Connect Community Programme brings technology and digital skills to those who need it most, giving over 42,000 learners access to support with digital skills.
In Africa, digital education suffers from a lack of skills, equipment and infrastructure. To address this, ITSA has so far built 43 IT labs with networked desktops and training for teachers. Most recently, in December 2025, ITSA installed a 41-computer IT lab in Mtuwa Community Day Secondary School in Malawi. Before this, the school’s 240 students had no access to computers.
Giving old kit new life
Since we started working with ITSA in 2016, we’ve donated hundreds of decommissioned computers, monitors and other equipment.
578 desktop PCs
240 laptops
133 monitors
A mountain of peripherals, including mice, keyboards, cables, and laptop bags.
In ITSA’s hands, every old piece of equipment they can refurbish is an opportunity for digital education, leading to qualifications, jobs or simply a way to stay in touch with family in the 21st century.
Asif Rehmanwala, CEO, Ecotricity, was invited to speak at ITSA’s event in March. He says: “Business has enormous influence. Used well, it can deliver positive outcomes for people, planet and performance. So we're proud to work with ITSA to help close the digital divide, one piece of technology at a time.”
A sustainable approach
This approach to reusing old electronics is important for environmental as well as social reasons.
By refurbishing and redeploying existing equipment, we can all help to:
Reduce landfill and help keeping toxic materials out of the ground.
Conserve resources by lowering the demand for the extraction of precious metals and raw materials.
Lower carbon emissions by reducing the high-carbon cost of manufacturing new devices from scratch.
Geoffrey Newsome, CEO, The ITSA Digital Trust says: “The equipment which you generously donate to ITSA is sustainably refurbished and re-used to enable schoolchildren in Africa and local community members in the UK to benefit from a digital education.
“Having access to such technology can be the key which opens a world of opportunity, including providing life-enhancing knowledge and skills, access to further education, improved employment opportunities and better social inclusion for people who need it most.”
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