Retiring IT hardware

Wondering what to do with your old technology? Retiring computers and other hardware is an important step in your hardware lifecycle management process.

Old or unusable IT hardware, affectionately known as electronic waste, contains potentially toxic materials like cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury. Electronic waste may also contain sensitive information about your business. Luckily, businesses have a few options to retire hardware safely and responsibly.

Trade in or donate to a charity

Some technology companies allow you to trade in your hardware for credit. Alternately, you may have a local charity that accepts hardware for donation. Both options typically attempt to refurbish and reuse the hardware. If they are unable, they will recycle it. The items accepted may vary by charity and you may be responsible for data destruction, but it is normally free and could qualify as a charitable donation.

(We are not tax experts, nor do we play them on TV. Always discuss with your tax professional.)

Look for charities that offer B2B/business recycling such as Goodwill or vendors with recycling programs, including Dell.

Find a certified electronics recycler

A certified recycler brings peace of mind that your data and hardware are being handled appropriately. Often they will come to your office or pickup your hardware. Professional recyclers follow important standards to ensure:

• data is destroyed
• hardware is disposed of
• reporting of recycling and evidence is provided

Look for recyclers accredited with the Responsible Recycling (R2) Standard for Electronics Recyclers or the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment.

Check out American Recycling in Lincoln, Nebraska.