U.K. Govt. Eyes Used PC Biz

A report in the U.K. says that the government should get into the computer refurbishing business, worth $140m a year, as an antidote to the private sector's eco-hating approach to old kit. Furthermore, refurb outfits' approach to security is also lacking, making the millions of old computers in circulation a big headache for Britain's data protection laws. From The Channel:

"The NAO says public bodies could make around £70m year from the resale of their old PCs and other kit, if they get their act together. On the face of it, this might worry dealers contemplating a flood of ex .gov kit hitting the market. Crucially, though, the NAO reckons that to achieve this turnover, gov bodies should replace kit on a three year cycle, rather than the five year cycle common in the public sector."

Is this a laudable attempt to recycle used technology without hitting up the taxpayer, or just another hamfisted plan for "improving" the operations of the private sector?

Whitehall should move into PC reseller biz, says repor [Channel]