Concern over data protection is the main reason up to 66 per cent of UK companies don't donate their IT equipment for reuse, according to research released by charity Computer Aid International.

Although more than 80 per cent of UK companies say they want to donate IT equipment for reuse currently only 14 per cent do.

Vanson Bourne, who conducted the research for the charity on a pro-bono basis, surveyed 100 IT decision makers in companies with more than 1,000 staff. It found that 63 per cent of those who do not reuse or recycle equipment gave concern about data protection as a reason.

However, according to Computer Aid International, a UK-based charity which refurbishes used computers and sends them to schools and hospitals in the developing world, companies should not be worried about donating old computers, as organisations like themselves have secure data wiping processes.

Director of communications, Anja ffrench (sic) said: “We take full legal liability for the data and so to have data protection as the reason not to send IT equipment for reuse is very concerning.”

She added that it was, “an issue of awareness-raising”, and said: “Since the vast majority of IT decision makers want to send PCs for reuse, we hope this research will encourage companies to improve their IT disposal procedures and look for decommissioning providers that guarantee environmentally friendly disposal of non-working equipment and best practise data security while also ensuring that working IT is reused.”

Other reasons for not donating old equipment included the cost of doing so and contractual constraints.