HP recycles personal computers in China.

Hewlett-Packard Co. has begun recycling personal computers and other products for Chinese consumers and small businesses, expanding a free program that already existed for large companies, according to PC World.

"We've offered recycling to corporate and enterprise customers in China for many years, and now we're extending this to consumers and small businesses in response to customer demand," says Ryan Donovan, an HP spokesman.

Environmental protection is a growing concern in China, where both cities and the countryside have been ravaged by years of headlong economic growth and heavy pollution from industry. The country has also become a major destination for electronic waste shipped from overseas that has resulted in pollution in the towns where these items are processed.

The program began in September. With the program Chinese consumers can drop off HP computers and other products, such as printers, monitors, and scanners, for recycling at service centers in 31 Chinese cities, the company says. These products will be sorted by HP and then sent out for recycling in China.

HP's Chinese recycling effort for used PCs will be expanded over the next year to include more cities and additional drop-off points, the company says.

More information about the PC collection and other HP recycling initiatives is available by visiting the company's Web site www.hp.com.