DALLAS -- The world's two largest computer manufacturers have gotten a little greener.

Dell Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. announced free, temporary programs Tuesday to encourage U.S. consumers to recycle toxin-filled computers and electronics.

In what Dell called a first-of-its-kind program, consumers who buy a new Dimension desktop or Inspiron notebook computer can recycle their old computers free.

The offer, which begins for U.S. consumers next week, expands on a free recycling program the company has had for printers since March 2003.

Rival Hewlett-Packard, meanwhile, has teamed up with retailer Office Depot to offer free recycling for computers, digital cameras, fax machines, cellular phones and other electronics.

Though limited to one computer system or other electronic device per customer per day, consumers can drop off electronics at any of the more than 850 Office Depot stores between Sunday and Labor Day.

Environmental groups, which have long blasted the computer industry for lax recycling efforts, lauded the news.

"Finally, consumers and small businesses have some options that don't charge you to do the right thing," said Robin Schneider, executive director of the Austin-based Texas Campaign for the Environment.

The group is one of three that teamed up for the Computer TakeBack Campaign, a watchdog that monitors the recycling efforts of the world's computer makers.

In May, the campaign published a report that ranked the recycling programs of Dell and HP above many foreign competitors. A year earlier, Dell fared poorly in the report, mainly for its use of prison workers who earned 20 cents to $1.26 per hour to recycle hardware.

Round Rock-based Dell now uses two domestic recycling companies and says none of the parts will end up in overseas landfills. Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP has recycling centers in Roseville, Calif., and near Nashville, Tenn.

Michael Rosenstein, Dell's director of consumer e-business, said the new program was in reaction to demands from consumers and environmental groups. He would not say how long Dell's limited offer would last.

Dell's recent environmentally friendly push includes a program that offers grants to cities for computer recycling events.

"We're always looking at ways to drive an increase in consumer awareness of various environmentally friendly options. This just happened to be the right time to do that," Rosenstein said.

The Dell program lets consumers get the free recycling as part of the checkout process on its Web site.

Buyers will get two prepaid shipping labels -- one for the computer, one for the monitor -- and instructions to put old equipment of any make or model in the boxes that contained the new equipment. They can then attach shipping labels and arrange for the free home pickup with shipping company DHL.

HP already has a mail-based computer recycling plan for $35. Those not buying new Dell computers can still buy home pickup recycling for $15 per monitor or computer, though currently the price has been lowered to $5 per unit.

Only about 11 percent of electronics are recycled, though it's unclear exactly how much e-waste is produced, Schneider said.

"There's a long way to go do deal with all the e-waste that's out there. Without a doubt, today is the first day that we can really say that consumers have good options," she said. "We do hope that they become permanent."

Dell shares closed at $35.40 Tuesday on the Nasdaq Stock Market. HP shares were up 14 cents to close at $20.25 on the New York Stock Exchange.