GreenPC Program

Amcor Australasia works in partnership with Infoxchange Australia to help redistribute recycled computers to low income families.

Infoxchange Australia has developed a Digital Divide Strategy aimed at addressing the growing inequality of access to the new information technologies among low-income and disadvantaged groups. They have also been successful in obtaining short-term funding from the Victorian Governments Community Jobs Program to establish a social enterprise called the GreenPC.

Green Peripherals and Components, otherwise known as GreenPC, has now developed as a successful social enterprise initiative of Infoxchange Australia that operates to service low income people on a national basis. GreenPC now operates out of two centres located in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Green PC's are recycled personal computers that are refurbished and repackaged into usable Internet ready computers and then made available to low-income communities, individuals and community organisations. The only qualification for an individual or family to have access to a Green PC computer is that they be holders of current Health Care Cards or are able to verify their low income status in some other way.

The GreenPC business initiative clearly seeks to build capacity into communities by enabling people on low incomes to access viable second-hand technology and seeks to reduce the environmental impact of "outmoded" technology by prolonging its lifespan and usability. The process of refurbishment that is used best enables these computers to be able to provide entry-level machines and Internet access at a price that is affordable to people and groups on low incomes or tight budgets.

Amcor’s role

Amcor's Western Australian operations have provided office space, electricity and phone lines for the GreenPC enterprise in Western Australia. Amcor’s support has also been extended to include the provision of packing materials for computers and monitors.

Amcor's contribution in this manner hopefully represents true savings to Green PC that will help them continue in their mission of providing affordable computers to the disadvantaged in our communities.