If you have a room full of old, unused computers, telephones, servers, or other consumer electronics, then you have what we call a computer cemetery. You know how the process starts. You place a few non-working or out-of-date machines in the corner of an unused room or closet, and the next thing you know, your extra space has turned into the resting place of countless electronics.
Organizations stock pile computers because they either can’t bear to let go of machines they’ll likely never use again or they worry about the safety of proprietary information hidden in the recesses of hard drives. While the reasons are understandable, valuable storage space, rapidly depreciating resale value, and the drag on ROI caused by unproductive assets should prompt businesses to divest themselves of computer cemeteries.
But what is the final resting place of your machines—the actual e-waste graveyard? Where does your recycling company send your scrap?
E-recyclers vary greatly due to a lack of regulation. According to the EPA, 82% of US e-waste is land filled and at least half of it ends up exported to countries such as China, Nigeria, and India, desperately lacking the necessary infrastructure to safely dispose of your toxic electronics.
Your computer monitor, for example, is made up of lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium, barium, and PVCs—all toxic ingredients whose increased exposure is known to cause cancer, brain damage, and kidney problems, among other serious medical and environmental issues.
Although a certificate of disposal from an e-recycler is reassuring, it means very little. The US does not ban the export of e-waste, and too often “recycled” materials are shipped to unfit and negligent processors, or even directly to landfills.
Take action today and call in a responsible e-recycler that provides:
– Secure data destruction – hard drive shredding and data erasure compliant with Department of Defense standards
– A downstream vendor report specifically identifying how and where product is finally processed
– Accurate reporting of your machine’s recovered value
– Access to their processing facility – a first hand look into their processing methods
Remember, choosing a responsible e-waste recycling company is crucial. After all, it is your company’s image—and information—on the line.
As appeared in the August issue of IREM Houston’s IREM Insight Newsletter. (Download PDF here)
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