Responsible electronics stewardship: A guide to purchasing and recycling equipment that makes the grade

Also keep in mind that universal components—hard drives, peripherals, power cables and chargers—can extend equipment life cycles, increase equipment reuse and decrease electronic waste. Standardization of your electronic and IT equipment means devices will be widely compatible and reusable with other equipment.

Responsible recycling

Reusing and upgrading electronics is the optimal green purchasing approach because it reduces the need to manufacture new equipment. This cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, and conserves the maximum amount of energy.

Inevitably, however, even cutting-edge technology will lose its edge—electronic devices will become obsolete or broken beyond repair—resulting in electronic waste that responsible purchasers should vigilantly recycle. In 2009, the EPA estimated only 25 percent of the 2.37 million tons of electronics ready for end-of-life management were collected for recycling, making electronics the fastest growing waste stream in the United States. Numbers like these underscore the need for having a comprehensive disposal plan in place before replacing old technology.

Responsible and environmentally friendly recycling of old or unwanted electronics limits the risk of toxins entering water and air through landfills. In fact, recycling 1 million laptops alone saves the energy equivalent to the electricity used by 3,657 U.S. homes in a year, according to the EPA. Unfortunately, not all electronics recyclers operate to the same standards. There are several important steps school officials need to take before selecting a recycler to ensure electronics are properly and safely dismantled and processed.

Safeguard your data. Be aware that your school or district remains responsible for the data in your computers even after their retirement and a data breach can potentially lead to identity theft and violations of federal and state privacy laws. Regardless of your school’s internal data destruction protocols, be sure the recycler offers data destruction compliant with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to make certain all employee and student data is erased before recycling.

Check for certifications. A certified recycler is committed to not only operating in compliance with recycling industry best practices that govern environmental, health, and safety management systems (R2, e-Stewards, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001), but is also implementing the latest standards that regulate information destruction (NAID) and the secure handling, warehousing and transportation of equipment (TAPA).

Develop a plan. Look for a recycler that can create a customized recycling plan for your school and offers the additional services you may require, such as collection and transportation support; product inventory, including serial number capture; product tracking and product refurbishment and reuse. The best recyclers offer a complete range of remarketing and recycling services internally, which eliminates reliance on subcontractors and improves accountability and security.

Ask questions. With whom does the recycler do business? Request the names and locations of a recycler’s downstream partners. Some recyclers only collect material for recycling, but do not actually process the equipment. Not knowing where your electronics are being recycled could put your school—and the environment—at risk. Determine whether the recycler conducts audits to ensure these vendors process and handle materials, such as shredded and separated plastic, aluminum and glass, in an environmentally responsible manner.

When done conscientiously, reusing and recycling electronics presents school districts with an opportunity to become better environmental stewards – and to demonstrate to their students that protecting the earth’s resources is something they not only preach, but practice.

Steve Skurnac is the president of Sims Recycling Solutions, the global leader in electronics reuse and recycling – 1-888-234-9967 – us.simsrecycling.com.

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