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Be sure you know the right way to get rid of your old computer if you are not taking advantage of the free Intechra electronics recycling events in local communities across the country April 12. The following tips will help you get rid of the old without damaging the environment or exposing yourself to embarrassing or costly data theft.
- Data wipe – a system for erasing all data from a hard drive; more extensive than deleting files or reformatting a hard drive
- E-waste – old electronics that are disposed of improperly; contain hazardous materials, such as lead, cadmium and mercury, that can pollute the soil and groundwater
- Zero landfill policy – commitment by a recycler to recycle every element of old electronic equipment and not send any material to a landfill
- Do something about the data on your hard drive(s). The easiest and least expensive method to ensure data on your hard drive doesn’t end up in the wrong hands is to crush the hard drive with a hammer or drill several holes in it. Reformatting your hard drive or deleting files does not completely erase data. Thieves can still access the data with software that is easy to find. While you might be turning it over to an organization that will wipe the drive and make the data irretrievable, you are still at risk of having data stolen between now and when that drive goes through a wipe process.
- Don’t just put your old TV or computer out with the trash. These electronics contain lead, cadmium and mercury, all of which are toxic and can pollute the soil and groundwater if the equipment ends up in a landfill.
- Inquire about manufacturer take-back programs. Several manufacturers, such as Dell, now offer such programs, some free and others either for a fee or in return for buying new equipment. A quick visit to their websites can give you the basics to see if this is a good option. Make sure you know what they will be doing with your old unit, and if you aren’t running a data wipe, make sure they will.
- See if your local government offers electronics or hazardous waste recycling. Make sure to follow the steps in No. 1 for deleting data. And ask questions – will your equipment be recycled properly? Or will it be shipped overseas and end up in some developing country’s landfill?
- Only consider donating to local non-profits or schools if the equipment is truly useful. Many non-profits can’t use computers with anything less than Pentium processors because the computers won’t have enough processing power to run today’s software.
- Act now. If you have electronics you need to discard, they lose value every day that they are stored in your closet or empty office.
- Find a reputable partner to help you properly discard your electronic assets. Recycling is extremely difficult and expensive to do correctly on your own, especially in today’s world of location-specific environmental regulations, Sarbanes Oxley, Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Make sure you find a partner who:
- Indemnifies your business from environmental and data security risk
- Removes your company asset tags before destroying or recycling the equipment
- Provides certificates of destruction and can back up that certificate with processes that are auditable and quality certified, such as ISO certification
- Provides written, auditable reports on the disposition of each asset
- Base your cost-related decisions on the overall bottom line, rather than line items within the process. Look for a clear definition of the fees and avoid being nickel and dimed with hidden costs such as transportation or disposal fees. And always keep in mind the costs of regulatory non-compliance and negative media attention when selecting your disposition partner – the cheapest may or may not be the best choice when protecting your company.
Intechra is the country’s largest provider of integrated IT asset disposition and electronics recycling services, with facilities in
Dallas, TX;
Los Angeles, CA;
Columbus, OH;
Hartford, CT;
and Merrimack, NH;
and headquartered in Jackson, MS The company has the capacity to process 335,000 electronic assets each month and is the only company of its kind with a full complement of remanufacturing, remarketing, recycling and redeployment capabilities.
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