ROUND ROCK, TX — Dell said it would no longer export nonworking parts, including broken computers and monitors, to developing countries.

While the US has no federal laws banning the export of e-waste, Dell said in a press statement it was responding to complaints about lax environmental regulations. The firm said it had previously specified this requirement to contractors, but this is the first time the company has stated a clear policy on the subject.

There are loopholes, however. Dell's policy has exceptions for raw materials going back into manufacturing and nonworking parts that need to be shipped because of warranty agreements. Nor did Dell explicitly state it would prohibit waste from being shipping outside the nation it was consumed in.

Dell is the world's second largest PC maker, behind Hewlett-Packard.

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TORONTO – Coretec Inc. reported first-quarter sales rose 9.2% from last year to $20.2 million, mainly due to the US/Canadian dollar exchange rate. 
 

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PORTLAND, OR – Electro Scientific Industries (ESI) reported fourth-quarter sales fell 29% from last quarter to $18.1 million. For the year, sales dropped 36% to $157.3 million.

GAAP net loss for the quarter was $14.9 million compared to $29.3 million in the third quarter. Fourth-quarter net loss included a charge of $9 million associated with restructuring, write-offs, impairment and expenses related to the Zygo transaction.
 
For the year, GAAP net loss was $51 million, compared to a net income of $16.6 million last year.
 
Quarter-on-quarter, non-GAAP net loss increased from $5.8 million to $7.1 million. Fourth-quarter orders fell to $16.1 million compared to $21.2 million last quarter.
 
Non-GAAP net loss was $9.1 million compared to $23.5 million in 2008.
 
At the end of the fourth quarter, ESI announced that it had agreed with Zygo Corp. to end their merger agreement. ESI received $5.4 million in break up fees.