Your business can only afford to keep old, unused electronics equipment in its storage areas for so long. Real estate is expensive; eventually you’ll need that space for something more worthwhile. So the question becomes, what do you do with those old electronics? Dumping them in a landfill or putting them in your dumpster is not an option. Not only will you be violating environmental regulations, but that equipment most likely contains sensitive data that could cause your business significant trouble if it fell into the wrong hands. Some of the equipment may even be remarketable. As you search for an electronics recycling vendor, you have these main priorities:

• Securely destroying the data stored on every piece of equipment.
• Ensuring an environmentally compliant electronics recycling process.
• Obtaining documentation that the above two objectives were accomplished.
• Keeping costs at a minimum.

Scan through the phonebook or do a search online for electronics recycling vendors and you’ll quickly find yourself overwhelmed with choices. The unfortunate truth is that some so-called electronics recyclers are less than upfront about their processes and capabilities. While some recyclers may offer cheap, or even free, recycling services, it’s possible their procedures (or that of their downstream partners) are not safe and legal; fully compliant electronics recycling has associated costs, and often those are more than it’s possible to recoup on the scrap market.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has this to say about electronics recycling: “Unfortunately not every electronic recycler follows environmentally sound recycling practices; however, responsible electronics recyclers and refurbishers can now become certified by demonstrating to an accredited, independent third party that they meet available standards on responsible recycling practices. EPA encourages all electronics recyclers to become certified and all customers to choose certified recyclers.”

Certification Makes the Difference Among Electronics Recycling Vendors

The EPA’s recommendation echoes the general consensus among environmental experts: vendors that have been certified by an industry-recognized third-party organization are the most reliable choices for electronics recycling. The two leading certifications for environmentally compliant and responsible electronics recycling are:

• e-Stewards
• R2/RIOS

To receive either certification, a vendor must undergo a rigorous audit and commit to ongoing audits on a regular basis to maintain their certifications. Again, the EPA has this to say about electronics recycling vendors that have earned either of these certifications:

“These programs advance best management practices and offer a way to assess the environmental, worker health, and security practices of entities managing used electronics. Specifically, these certification programs are based on strong environmental standards which maximize reuse and recycling, minimize exposure to human health or the environment, ensure safe management of materials by downstream handlers, and require destruction of all data on used electronics.”

Another certification to look for from your electronics recycling vendor is AAA certification from the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID). This certification is also only available through a rigorous auditing process. Vendors that have it have shown that they follow the latest standards for data destruction and have a well-documented process in place, demonstrating compliance with regulatory standards and security best practices.

Environmental compliance remains one of the more complicated elements of proper electronics recycling. To clear up some of the confusion, we have created a useful guide, “The 2013 Guide to Environmental Compliance in IT Asset Disposition (ITAD).” Download the guide for free by clicking on the link below.