One type of waste that consumers do not typically view as dangerous is electronic waste, which is considered hazardous and makes up 70 percent of the earth’s toxic waste. ITAD providers partner with companies to responsibly dispose of their IT assets and provide value-added services that protect data and maximize the value of retired assets.
Global e-waste generation significantly contributes to environmental pollution and continues to increase. The world produces more than 60 million tonnes of e-waste annually, with only 22.3 percent recorded as recycled. IT asset disposition (ITAD) enterprises provide sustainable solutions for retired IT assets and value-added services that maximize the value of used devices, including data erasure and device reuse via asset redeployment. Partnering with an ITAD provider will help companies reduce their carbon footprint and increase ROI.
Valentine’s Day is upon us! Amid the festivities, remember to keep the environment in mind. Whether you or your significant other are treating yourself to the newest smartphone or upgrading to a larger TV screen, responsible IT asset disposition is critical to protecting the environment and reducing e-waste. Proper disposition is important for many reasons, and we’ve provided some tips on how to show love for the environment this Valentine’s Day with electronics recycling.
Proper e-waste disposal begins with proper IT asset management, which students can accomplish simply by ensuring their old electronics are disposed of properly. Many are deterred by the lack of knowledge on where to take excess devices. Popular retailers like Best Buy and Walmart and service providers like AT&T often offer drop-off programs to assist with proper e-waste disposition.
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been a long-standing issue in the e-waste industry. Batteries are hazardous, but LIBs are exceptionally prone to causing chemical fires when damaged. LIBs have been the source of hundreds of facility, vehicle, and house fires due to battery damage, but Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be the key to a solution.
Battery disposal has been a topic of discussion in the waste industry for years as an obstacle many companies face in IT asset disposition. Lithium-ion batteries especially pose issues for e-waste disposal and have been the source of many warehouse and house fires. Many states have enacted battery disposal laws to ensure they are disposed of properly, and New Hampshire recently passed their own.
ITAD providers offer services like repair and refurbishment designed to maximize the value of retired IT assets via remarketing used devices. As a crucial part of a circular economy, device reuse helps close the loop and helps eliminate waste.
ITAD providers offer various disposition services, including repair and safe battery removal. Battery recycling is critical to reducing battery fires, and Indiana recently received a grant to help spread awareness by expanding battery recycling in the community.
Partnering with an ITAD provider like HOBI will ease the burden of finding a safe disposal method for retired IT assets while providing a range of end-of-life solutions, including data security, data center services, and reverse logistics.
E-waste makes up a significant portion of the world’s global waste generation, and a primary reason is the lack of resources and information. When users upgrade their electronic devices, they typically toss their old devices out with the garbage because they don’t know how else to dispose of them, which can be extremely dangerous.