Electronic devices do not have a big life span and need to be replaced from time to time. The life span of desktop computers is around 5 years, smartphones have a lifespan of about 2 years and for laptops, it’s an average of 3 years. According to a report, it has been estimated that Americans discard around 130,000 computers on an everyday basis. Almost all of the useful materials of a computer can be retrieved with the help of electronic waste recycling services. Around 80 percent of the e-waste is probably traded, dumped or recycled under poor conditions. When you partner with a reliable electronic waste recycling partner, you get to protect your company, your employees and the confidential information.
Understand the risks
It is vital that you are aware of the danger introduced by poor e-waste management practices so that you can select a partner that adopts a good approach for electronic waste management. One of the major risks faced by businesses is the exposure of confidential information of the company. The valuable information of a company and its customers can come at risk when the recycler does not adequately wipe off data from the devices with the help of data destruction services.
Certain recyclers might claim that they will effectively dispose of items in a manner that protects the business but your devices might not be adequately erased or might even end up getting exported in an illegal manner, thereby creating risk for your brand. Negative impact on the environment is another disadvantage of improper management of e-waste. Recyclers that are unethical only process the items that are higher in value whereas the older items that need money to recycle might be stockpiled illegally, dumped or exported to countries that do not have any good recycling structure. This behavior has resulted in environmental damage along with taxpayer funded clean-ups overseas.
Ask appropriate questions
Going into the details of the operations of your potential e-waste partner or national electronic recycling company and asking the right questions will help you get peace of mind in the long run. Ask your vendor the following questions:
How is your business?
Discover for how long the potential partners have been operating and the kinds of companies that they serve. Get in touch with references to analyze the quality of service and the company reputation.
What is your process of recycling?
An understanding of the steps that your partner takes for recycling will help you in separating the good partners from the less-reputable ones. Ask your potential partner a description of the distinct parts of the process and ask if you can visit their facility to get a better understanding.
Are you certified?
It is vital that you look for a partner that is an e-Stewards-certified recycler as this certification is the most reliable one in the industry. It makes sure that your information will be protected, surpassing the regulatory requirements.
What is the list of services provided by you?
A reliable e-waste recycling partner will work with you to make the process of disposal convenient for you. Seek out partners that are ready to come to your office with a truck to pick up huge volumes of IT tech items. Also, consider a partner that permits you to easily request recycling at distinct locations in case your business has more than one office.
Do you track devices?
In case your items are equipped with asset tags, ensure that your potential partner will provide you certificates of recycling or destruction that have asset tag information on it. The certifications of ewaste companies confirm that your items have been effectively recycled.
