The world is becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, and the ITAD industry has evolved to maneuver new challenges to meet clients’ needs. As a new industry standard, ESG reporting assists companies in providing transparency and accountability in three areas. In the ITAD space, environmental standards are guaranteed for responsible IT asset disposition, and ITAD providers offer sustainable solutions for e-waste that help clients achieve environmental ESG criteria.
ITAD is Crucial for E-Waste Reduction
As one of the fastest-growing solid waste streams in the world, e-waste accounts for 70 percent of the world’s toxic waste, and only a small amount is recycled each year. In 2022, less than a quarter of e-waste produced globally was recycled. The amount of new electronics released yearly compared to how much e-waste is responsibly disposed of has created a global e-waste crisis that continues to grow, making IT asset disposition increasingly critical. ITAD providers help reduce e-waste by partnering with companies to collect retired IT assets, such as laptops, phones, desktops, printers, tablets, etc., for recycling.
Recycling is the Best Method of E-Waste Disposal
Several methods are used to dispose of e-waste, but recycling is the most environmentally friendly. Many believe landfills are the best choice, but e-waste differs from regular waste. Electronics are made with precious metals such as gold, silver, mercury, lead, platinum, and aluminum that leak toxic chemicals that eventually soak into the soil and pollute the groundwater. This can affect the surrounding water supply and cause severe illness in animals and people living in nearby areas. Another popular method is incineration, which many turn to to avoid potential environmental pollution, but incineration also causes pollution. Rather than soaking into the groundwater, the chemicals pollute the air when electronics are burned and can also cause health issues for those living nearby. Recycling e-waste eliminates pollution, prevents hazardous materials from being sent to landfills or incineration facilities, and helps companies achieve environmental ESG criteria.
ITAD Providers Offer a Multitude of Sustainable Solutions
Few businesses have disposition plans for retired IT assets, which can lead to poor e-waste management. Electronics recycling is the safest, most environmentally friendly manner of disposal for these hazardous materials, and ITAD facilities like HOBI offer more than just recycling. ITAD services often include:
- Data security and erasure
- Mobile asset management with mobility-managed services like repair and remarketing
- Customized reverse logistics
- Data center services including decommissioning and relocation
- Materials recovery
- Donation programs
As an R2v3, RIOS, and ISO 14001 certified IT asset management and disposition provider, HOBI prioritizes environmental safety in every step of the disposition process and works to reduce the pollution and contamination produced by e-waste via electronics recycling.
For more information about our ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.