What if we told you that your company’s old technology is extremely valuable?
Through asset recycling, you can take old computers, hard drives, and other unused tech collecting dust in your office and extract company intel, then recycle the device for money.
However, you must recycle your tech properly if you don’t want to fall victim to information leaks or cause environmental harm.
Want to learn the correct and safest way to recycle electronics and begin extracting value from your company’s retired tech? Then keep reading!
What Is Asset Recycling?
Asset recycling is when electronics are wiped of information, taken apart, and disposed of safely. Oftentimes, these parts are reused in future electronic production.
Keep in mind that the recycling of electronics doesn’t follow the same procedures as metals, cardboard, plastic, and other materials. As a rule of thumb, if you can plug it into a wall, do NOT throw it in your regular trash or recycling bin.
Here are some examples of common tech you may have lying around in the office that can be recycled:
- TVs
- Desktop computers & laptops
- Telephone equipment
- Audio video equipment
- Tablets & other smart tech
- Monitors
- VCRs
- Printers
- Circuit boards & servers
4 Reasons You Need Asset Recycling for Your Business
Not sure why you should take the time to recycle your tech?
Let’s take a look at these 4 critical reasons you should consider recycling your assets–and trust a professional electronics recycling company to help you safely dispose of your e-waste.
1. Security
One of the most important reasons why you should entrust your electronic recycling in the hands of a professional recycling company is to protect your company’s valuable data.
Even if you haven’t used a hard drive or old computer in years, there may still be information on it that you don’t want falling into the wrong hands.
When you trust your IT asset recycling with professional electronic recyclers such as GLE, your information is extracted before it’s permanently wiped.
That means you NEVER have to worry about data leaks!
2. Energy Savings
When you recycle your electronics, many of the parts can be repurposed to create new tech. It takes lots of energy and other valuable natural resources to create brand-new technology.
So when you recycle, you’re helping reduce the extraction of natural resources from the environment tat cause greenhouse gas emissions and other hazardous waste.
3. Regulatory Compliance
Speaking of hazardous materials… did you know that many devices contain toxic chemicals?
Check out these 3 materials that are hiding in your old tech.
Mercury: Found in the backlights of many monitors and screens
Lead: Found in circuit boards and in many TVs and monitors
Arsenic: Found in batteries to prevent corrosion
If you throw your electronics in the trash, they’ll inevitably end up in a landfill where they’ll slowly decompose, spreading toxic chemicals into the surrounding landscape.
Luckily, many states have electronic disposal laws that help regulate electronic waste. These laws have been effective in boosting electronic recycling rates, helping to reduce energy and repurpose old electronic parts in new electronics
Always check with your state’s electronic recycling regulations before recycling.
4. Environmental Impact
We all know the 3 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle.
From a young age, these three words are drilled into us and we’re encouraged to recycle everyday items such as plastic and paper. But with the global population becoming more and more reliant on technology every year, we must translate these principles to our electronics.
As previously discussed, many electronics such as cell phones to flat screen TVs contain hazardous materials. When these devices inevitably end up in a landfill, they slowly decompose and spread toxic chemicals into the soil and water, and can harm the surrounding landscape and wildlife.
When you choose to recycle your business’s electronics instead of throwing them in the trash, you’re doing more than just protecting your business, you’re protecting the environment.
Now, let’s talk about how exactly you can safety recycle your tech!
How to Recycle Your Business’s Electronics
It’s critical that you recycle your electronics properly, but this is especially true for businesses that have higher volumes of tech and appliances.
Read through these 3 easy steps to understand how you can effortlessly recycle your e-waste in no time:
1. Take Inventory of Tech You Plan to Recycle
Have any clunky computers gathering dust in a back closet? How about old monitors that don’t work? Gather all the tech taking up precious space in your office to get an estimate of how much e-waste you’re looking at.
Depending on the amount and size of electronics, you may want to consider an electronic pickup. We’ll discuss this in the following steps, but first, let’s talk about data.
2. Extract Data
This step is critical. Even if you haven’t thought about the information that’s on your decades-old computer in a while, it’s important to always assume that valuable information is on there. If you fail to extract the data and wipe the device properly, it can lead to lost or stolen data.
Don’t put your company at risk for a data leak and always make sure to properly wipe your devices before recycling them.
Luckily, you don’t have to worry about wiping your data on your own. Some facilities, such as Great Lakes Electronics, have teams to not only collect data but extract it and safely wipe it from your devices before recycling it.
3. Schedule a Pickup or Drop Off at an Electronic Recycling Facility
You don’t need to jump through hoops to for asset recycling. Instead, you can easily drop off your old tech at an electronics recycling facility or schedule a pickup!
Drop-off and pickup are designed to make recycling effortless. However, that you do your research before choosing a recycling facility and only trust a professional electronic recycling facility to safely dispose of your e-waste.
Ask an e-waste recycling facility these questions before you entrust them with your recycling needs:
- What kind of insurance does your facility have?
- Do you follow local regulations for e-waste?
- How do you ensure that my data is destroyed properly before my tech is scrapped?
Credible recycling facilities will be able to answer these questions without hesitation. If you find a recycler dismisses your questions or offers vague answers, do NOT choose them to handle your tech.
4. Extract Value from Old Technology
Now is the time to finally say goodbye to your old technology and extract value from your electronics: company data & money.
1. Data
Don’t recycle your tech before you or an insured recycling company properly extracts all possible data from your electronic device. You don’t want to risk losing valuable information to a landfill or a thief. Protect your company by ensuring all data is permanently wiped before you recycle.
2. Money
Did you know that you can offset the cost of company electronics by scrapping old tech? It’s true!
Not only are you doing the environment a favor by choosing safe recycling, but an electronic recycling facility will also compensate you for your scrapped electronics. Always check beforehand to see what competitive pricing they can offer for your technology.
The Best Way to Recycle Your Electronic Waste
Looking for an experienced and trusted e-waste recycling facility?
At Great Lakes Electronics, our insured team will manage your asset recycling. From computers to hard drives, we will recycle your tech in a safe and eco-friendly way designed to conserve energy and keep hazardous waste out of landfills.
Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, we’ll pick up your e-waste. Call us now at 888-392-7831 to schedule!