Electronics recycling: compliance without compromise
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Why does the world need exponentially more electronics recycling? Because e-waste makes a really big mess. A recent report from United Nations...
As the amount of e-waste across the globe continues to grow, secure electronics recycling and disposal is more important than ever.
E-waste, or waste from electronic devices, is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. It is estimated that 48.5M tons of e-waste was generated in 2018 according to the World Economic Forum.
Your organization's contribution may include:
Meeting sustainability goals was listed as the top ITAD objective (52%) in 2020 IDG Research survey amongst enterprise level IT directors. Remarketing and recycling your old IT assets can meet this goal, while also providing the option to retain some of their value.Remarketing: A Path to Greater Returns
A retired IT asset isn't worthless. You may no longer need it, but someone else may be able to extend its useful life, meaning you can reclaim some of its value However, remarketing IT assets presents a huge potential security risk: What if some of your vital and proprietary business data is lingering inside?
Because of this, it's best to work with an IT asset disposition vendor that adheres to security best practices to make sure your reward comes without risk.
A Secure IT Asset Disposition Vendor Should:
Two of the best environmental reasons to recycle old IT assets include: keeping potentially toxic materials out of landfills and to recovering some of the raw materials so they can be used again. (The EPA says that recyclers recover more than 50,000 tons of materials from electronics annually). But you should also be concerned about elements beyond the environment. Your e-waste must be recycled by a vendor that conforms to recycling regulations and strictly follows destruction practices to avoid any possible data loss or theft.
To get the job done, you should work with a professional media and IT asset disposition vendor that:
E-waste, or waste from electronic devices, is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. It is estimated that 48.5M tons of e-waste was generated in 2018 according to the World Economic Forum.
Your organization's contribution may include:
- Servers, desktop computers and laptops.
- Smartphones and tablets.
- Printers, scanners and related peripherals.
Meeting sustainability goals was listed as the top ITAD objective (52%) in 2020 IDG Research survey amongst enterprise level IT directors. Remarketing and recycling your old IT assets can meet this goal, while also providing the option to retain some of their value.Remarketing: A Path to Greater Returns
A retired IT asset isn't worthless. You may no longer need it, but someone else may be able to extend its useful life, meaning you can reclaim some of its value However, remarketing IT assets presents a huge potential security risk: What if some of your vital and proprietary business data is lingering inside?
Because of this, it's best to work with an IT asset disposition vendor that adheres to security best practices to make sure your reward comes without risk.
A Secure IT Asset Disposition Vendor Should:
- assign a fair market value to your unneeded IT assets
- erase data on devices and remove any other identifying information prior to remarketing
- cover shutdown/power down, de-installation, removal, processing and resetting to factory defaults
- securely destroy or recycle any hardware that has no market value
- use the same security and chain-of-custody measures it uses during destruction and e-waste recycling.
E-Waste: The IT Industry’s Biggest Challenge
An increasing amount of research illustrates the challenges of e-waste disposal. Now businesses are searching for ways to handle this process efficiently and cost-effectively.Recycling: Save the World, Save YourselfTwo of the best environmental reasons to recycle old IT assets include: keeping potentially toxic materials out of landfills and to recovering some of the raw materials so they can be used again. (The EPA says that recyclers recover more than 50,000 tons of materials from electronics annually). But you should also be concerned about elements beyond the environment. Your e-waste must be recycled by a vendor that conforms to recycling regulations and strictly follows destruction practices to avoid any possible data loss or theft.
To get the job done, you should work with a professional media and IT asset disposition vendor that:
- destroys any remaining data on your assets prior to recycling
- de-manufactures e-waste into its component parts and recycle each piece in an environmentally sound way
- promises to never export or incinerate e-waste or send it to a landfill, at home or abroad
- offers clear chains of custody and supporting documentation throughout the process — from pickup at your office to final processing
- complies with e-Stewards® standards that outline safe, environmentally favorable and regulation-friendly methods of e-waste disposal.
Iron Mountain Suggests: Secure Electronics Recycling
Considering electronics recycling and remarketing? Talk to Iron Mountain. We can help you develop a plan to recover value from your unused assets, recycle what can't be resold and securely destroy what's leftover.. In the process, we also ensure your critical data is wiped clean according to Department of Defense (DoD) standards. Other advantages include:- Security: Vetted and screened employees pick up your disposed assets in vehicles equipped with GPS and best-in-class security systems.
- Verification: We provide chain-of-custody documentation, as well as certificates of destruction, recycling and remarketing for your audit reports.
- Returns: You receive 60 percent of the remarketed value of assets.
