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Today, most organizations are actively seeking to reduce the use and recycling of items such as paper, bottles, and cans, but few organizations consider what happens to their damaged or outdated IT and electrical equipment, such as computers, laptops, and hard drives. The following are examples of the options available for the responsible disposal or recycling of this equipment.
Computers:
All major computer components must be recycled responsibly, in line with the UK WEEE directive. This means that they will be individually broken down into basic materials and recycled. However, it is not uncommon for broken computers to be the result of one or two broken parts, in which case the remaining components can be removed, refurbished and sold as spare parts or used to build new machines.
Hard drive
When a hard drive becomes damaged or corrupted, people often make the mistake of just throwing it away as normal waste, however, it is one of the easiest ways for an identity thief to steal sensitive information. Fully licensed hard drive disposal companies will be able to permanently wipe data off the hard drive before reusing or destroying it.
Laptops
This is very similar to the disposal of computers, laptops are broken down into their component parts before being recycled as plastics and metals. In addition, some of them can be refurbished and reused. Working parts can be used to repair other laptops to avoid sending parts to a landfill, which can drastically reduce a company’s carbon footprint.
Batteries
Batteries are among the most dangerous items sent to landfills; however, in 2012 only less than 10% was recycled in the UK. EU directives mean 45% must be recycled by 2016.
Fluorescent fluorescent lamps
Also known as gas discharge lamps (GDL), they are classified as hazardous waste and should be disposed of responsibly by a professional disposal company. Often, disposal companies offer specially made boxes to store used tubes to prevent them from cracking during transport.
All of the above items can be recycled and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner by a specialized disposal company that can significantly reduce any company’s carbon footprint and increase its ecological credentials. In fact, many of them have the potential to be renewed and reused, thus reducing the level of waste in the organization in line with the waste hierarchy; Reduce, reuse and recycle.
When choosing a disposal company, be sure to check their environmental and ethical responsibility policy. This can be done by making sure they have the appropriate recycling and disposal certificates that are issued and enforced by the Environment Agency.
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Source by Ian Etherington