Proper recycling of electronic waste means being a good steward for your data, security, and the environment.
By Anisa Williams, BSS Staff
In the digital age, we treat electronics as disposable items but we should be thoughtful when it’s time to get rid of them. Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing waste stream globally and in 2024, the US alone produced 7.9 million tons of e-waste. Of that, only 15% is estimated to have been recycled, which means 6.7 million tons ended up in landfills. A recent UN report estimates that Americans will add an additional 1.2 million tons to our totals each year.
E-waste can refer to anything with a battery, a plug, or a circuit board, and every device has a built-in expiration date. Laptops have an average shelf life of five years, desktop computers seven, and servers ten years. Cell phones have an average lifespan of two years and are one of the most common items found in a landfill.
There are two major concerns when looking to get rid of electronics: your data and toxic chemicals.
Leftover Data is Dangerous
Most electronic devices have some kind of memory that houses residual data, including personal information, login credentials, browsing or connection history, financial data, client or employee records, and/or physical location.
Trashing electronics without properly wiping the data stored in it can be a security nightmare: Not only is it irresponsible and illegal in some states, but anyone who finds that device can rehabilitate it and steal the information.
There are many stories of firewalls, computers, and even old gaming consoles being pulled from dumpsters by enterprising repairers, only to find the information on the device gives them admin credentials or backdoors to the network.
Every device with data should be wiped before it is physically destroyed. This requires a few extra steps that may include a software wipe, removal of any hard drives or memory storage, and physical shredding. A properly wiped and destroyed device will be documented on a Certificate of Destruction from a tech recycler, ensuring that the data chain of custody has been completed.
Made with Toxic Chemicals
When e-waste is thrown away, it can release up to 1000 different chemical substances into the environment and watersheds, including known neurotoxicants such as lead, lithium, and mercury. The majority of solid waste recycling facilities are unable to process these chemicals as it requires adherence to specific regulations and safety protocols. At dedicated e-waste recyclers, these dangerous materials are safely collected and delivered to local manufacturing facilities that reuse these metals, plastics, and chemicals.
Properly recycling electronics ensures that valuable materials such as steel, glass, and plastic, as well as precious metals such as copper, gold, tin, silicon, and aluminum are reclaimed to be made into new products, which bypasses normal mining methods.
Decommission and Destroy
Proper disposal processes are critically important to ensure that your data and information is cleared and destroyed at end of life. Check with your organization or IT company to ensure that when your computers are at end of life, they are going through a decommission process and recycled with a provided Certificate of Destruction. BSS takes care of our clients with a documented decommission process, Chain of Custody, and Certificate of Destruction records for all equipment.
Partner with Trusted E-Waste Recyclers
Many communities don’t have municipal e-waste recycling programs, however there are several private recycling programs that support donation events or sometimes offer buy-back options for e-waste. Best Buy accepts small devices like mobile phones, however it’s best to find a local recycling company near you.
NOTE: Many recycling companies will charge a fee for TVs, CRT monitors, and copiers because of the extra safety precautions needed to process these items.
Central Indiana: BSS partners with Technology Recyclers for our semi-annual Electronic Waste Recycling Drives. 100% of the electronic waste they pick up from our office is diverted from landfills. They remove and wipe all devices and provide certificates of destruction. Find them at one of the 130 local drop off events or schedule a pickup on their website.
Central Tennessee: Rutherford County Haley Road has opened an e-waste recycling center for drop off. BSS schedules pickups with Tri-Star Electronics Recycling, the only R2-certified recycler in the area.
West Michigan: Comprenew, PADNOS Turner Recycling Center, and some Kent County Solid Waste facilities accept e-waste through drive or drop off centers. Valley City Electronic Recycling and PADNOS can pick up in bulk or if you are organizing a drive.
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It’s up to each one of us to be good stewards of our data, our security, and the environment to keep our old devices from ending up in the wrong place.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electronic-waste
https://ewastemonitor.info/https://tech-recyclers.com/why-recycle-electronics/
https://ewcra.org/2024/06/21/e-waste-recycled-in-us/
https://reboottechrecycling.com/e-waste-recycling/the-biggest-e-waste-facts-of-2024/
https://pirg.org/articles/6-surprising-facts-from-the-uns-2024-electronic-waste-report/
https://www.4thbin.com/blogs/role-of-data-security-in-e-waste-management
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3080922/
