In reaction to the Gartner report, Computer Aid International, a U.K. charitable organization that refurbishes donated PCs to nonprofit organizations in developing countries, downplayed the overall environmental impact of used PCs in emerging nations.

Instead, CEO Tony Roberts wanted to draw attention to the more than 5 billion mobile phones, 1.5 billion TVs and numerous other appliances that people have used and thrown away, as reported in a CRN article.

"Reusing second-hand PCs which still have several years of productive life in them continues to be the most environmentally responsible corporate decision for legacy IT equipment," Roberts told CRN. "Given that 75 percent of the energy used by a PC across its working life is expended during its manufacture, to recycle component parts of a computer which is still in working order is irresponsible."