If you are in the UK and have old electronics or computer equipment you need to get rid of, you might not know what to do with it in order to be in compliance with the WEEE directives. In 2007, the UK implemented these directives to protect the environment and keep the poisonous and toxic materials in this type of equipment from leaching into the groundwater. The disposal of old electronic equipment is governed by these directives and affects businesses and consumers, alike.
Complying with WEEE when getting rid of old electronics
- The easiest way to ensure compliance with WEEE is to find an Environment Agency licensed waste carrier.
- They know exactly what to do with old electronics under the WEEE Directives.
- They will also provide you with any necessary documentation to prove your adherence to WEEE Directives.
Data security when getting rid of old electronics
Getting rid of old electronics is a concern for many businesses, not only because of WEEE regulations, but because they might have important and confidential data stored on them. This needs to be wiped off of the hard drive and they may also need asset tracking, certificates of destruction and other documentation to protect them from identity theft or data compromise. Licensed waste carriers that are specially trained in recycling and disposal of IT assets can take care of these concerns properly.
Data protection should be one of your primary concerns if your hard drive contains personal banking and credit card information. Most people think that wiping their data out once by re-formatting the drive is all that is needed, but that isn’t the case. For this reason, you need the services of trained professionals to ensure the safe destruction of your data and hard drive, in addition to the proper recycling or disposal of your old electronics and IT computer equipment.
Old electronics and the environment
One of the reasons that many businesses and consumers do not know what to do with old electronics is that there are guidelines that have to be followed to properly recycle or dispose of these items. The average PC might have more than a hundred toxins in it, including up to eight pounds of lead, and CRT televisions and monitors also contain phosphors, cadmium and lead, in addition to dangerous explosive qualities that can send glass shards at high velocity if the exterior of the tube becomes damaged.
By using specially trained and licensed waste carriers, these worries can be eliminated and the equipment can either be recycled to help those less fortunate or it can be broken down, the “good” components recycled and the “bad” ones properly disposed of.
For those that are concerned about their important data, these carriers can safely destroy it and provide the documentation you need for your files and your insurance. Using a licensed e waste recycler is the easiest way to ensure compliance with WEEE, data security and protection for the environment when getting rid of old electronics.
Find out how RecyclingYourIT.co.uk can help your company recycle old electronics in the Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Essex and London areas.