Computer Equipment Salvage
Constant advances in computing and communications technologies have given rise to a corresponding problem of computing equipment becoming quickly obsolete. In order to take advantage of the latest software and communications applications, it has become necessary to make sure that your computer is a relatively recent model. This in turn has created a problem of an ever rising tide of obsolete computer equipment and the corresponding question: “what should one do with it?” A company or individual really has one of 3 choices: 1. Do nothing; 2 Donate or; 3. Recycle. It is the recycling or salvaging of computer hardware which is the least problematic. It avoids the hidden storage and administrative costs of storing old equipment and enables you to ensure that you remain 100% compliant with privacy laws, which may not always be the case if you donate the equipment. There are a number of companies that have set themselves up specifically for the business of salvaging old computers and other computing equipment. Old computer components are collected, secured and shipped to secured facility where they are destroyed. From both an environmental and regulatory standpoint having your old computers taken care of by one of these companies is the soundest business option. This process is the most environmentally friendly because materials (glass, plastic and metal) are re-processed for re-use by industry and nothing goes into landfill. The process is also certified with these companies issuing their customers with an authorized certificate of destruction. This helps companies maintain compliance with current privacy regulations. These companies will charge a fee for salvaging and disposing of your old computer equipment but the disposal fees tend to be modest, particularly when compared with the costs of not disposing of the equipment at all or the environmental costs of disposing of it thoughtlessly so that the equipment ends up in landfill. There are a few things that you need to do before contacting a computer equipment salvage company. Firstly determine what computer equipment needs disposal and where it is currently located. Disposal companies tend to charge a “per-component” recycling fee so you will need to know exactly how many systems you have that need disposal and where they are located in order to co-ordinate pickup. You also need to make sure that you are dealing with a company that will keep you in compliance with environmental and privacy laws and who has the ability to make the process easy and cost effective for you. In short, they should be able to do each of the following things: 1. Provide an audit trail be serial number; 2. Give you proof that all equipment, data and software has been destroyed; 3. Be able to dispose of all electronics that provide proprietary data, not just PCs; 4. Handle local pick-up requirements in each of the markets in which you operate and; 5. Provide disposal support services such as hardware pallets. Using the services of a computer equipment salvage company to dispose of old computer equipment will ultimately give you both business and environmental peace-of-mind.
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