Bred from the rise of a digital era, the issue of e-waste is a growing concern plaguing industry experts and environmentalists across the globe. The growth of online culture, such as content creation, reels, and even remote working, necessitates multiple forms of technological equipment like cameras, laptops, and other mobile devices, increasing device turnaround times and the demand for device manufacturing. Electronics have become so disposable that the amount of global e-waste generated rises every year, creating a nationwide e-waste crisis due mainly to irresponsible disposal of IT assets.
More e-waste accumulates each year, causing an influx of hazardous material that many do not know how to dispose of properly. Lack of knowledge on responsible IT asset disposition has resulted in exponential amounts of hazardous waste being sent to landfills, which will inevitably cause water pollution and could be detrimental to human health.
Electronics today contain metals such as gold, aluminum, copper, lead, mercury, etc., that leak toxic chemicals over time. When mobile assets and other popular IT assets like laptops, smartphones, tablets, and printers end up in landfills, these harmful chemicals will eventually be absorbed by the soil and contaminate the groundwater. This will poison the surrounding water supply and affect animals and nearby people. Ingesting these chemicals can cause extreme illness that may even become fatal. For this reason, it is critical that e-waste be kept out of landfills, and a key component of environmental protection is proper IT asset management and disposition.
Responsible IT asset disposition goes beyond discarding e-waste. ITAD encompasses a range of end-of-use services including data destruction, reverse logistics solutions, and mobile asset management. Data security is a priority in a digital world, and ITAD providers offer data erasure services to ensure no data leaks occur even after disposition. Retired IT assets are not always at the end of their useful life cycle when disposed of. IT asset management with an ITAD partner includes value-maximizing services such as repair, refurbishment, and device remarketing to expand the lifecycle of retired IT assets. Keeping assets in circulation helps contribute to a circular economy through device reuse while providing used electronics to those without access.
HOBI International, Inc. is an R2v3, RIOS, WBE, and ISO 14001 certified IT asset management and disposition enterprise with more than 30 years of experience in the e-waste industry. We focus on mitigating environmental liability, maximizing economic return in every step of the disposition process, and prioritizing client satisfaction in all areas. HOBI practices legislative compliance in every area and undergoes yearly audits to maintain certifications.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.