This time of year, many in the business world may find themselves staring at piles of old IT hardware long since retired with nowhere to go. Now is the perfect time to start spring cleaning, starting with IT asset disposition. It’s time to make room for new equipment, which means finding a disposal method for those retired electronics. This year, consider recycling during your spring cleaning. IT asset disposition is often put on the back burner, but it’s one of an enterprise’s most important decisions.
Most electronics today, including smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, vapes, desktops, and even small appliances, are made with Lithium-Ion batteries. While it’s never safe to throw batteries out with the municipal waste, LIBs are exceptionally dangerous due to their explosive nature. When damaged, LIBs are known to cause chemical fires that take extended periods to extinguish and require special treatment. When IT assets are thrown out or left on the curb for the regular trash run, they typically end up in landfills, where they can burn hundreds of acres of land or catch garbage trucks on fire.
Improper disposal of IT equipment can lead to environmental pollution and result in lawsuits and other legal issues. For example, a landfill in Alabama recently made headlines for being one of the longest-burning underground landfill fires to date. No cause has been determined as of yet, but reports of unauthorized waste like scrap tires and appliances were made despite the landfill claiming to be “green waste.” Events such as this often affect surrounding residents and can lead to lawsuits and costly legal fees that can damage an enterprise’s reputation.
Another factor to consider before tossing out IT assets is data security. Many are unaware that data remains on a device until it is properly sanitized, and leaving IT assets exposed can lead to data breaches.
End-of-life facilities like HOBI partner with companies looking to retire old IT assets and ensure they are disposed of properly. Proper disposal mitigates potential fire risks and any damage to a company’s environmental policies.
With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, HOBI prioritizes client satisfaction and environmental safety. Partnering with an ITAD vendor will help prevent catastrophes such as landfill fires and company and employee data from falling into the wrong hands. For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.