Category

Computer Disposal

Jun 16
0

World Study suggests Illegal Dumping of WEEE is Rife

By | Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling, News | No Comments

A report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reveals some stark statistics about the state of WEEE recycling around the world. Their figures suggest that as much as 90% of the world’s waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) could be being illegally traded or dumped annually. This comes as a shock as the latest figures from the UK at the very least paint a different picture.

The new report, Waste Crime – Waste Risks: Gaps in Meeting the Global Waste Challenge, suggests around 369 million tonnes of WEEE are handled illegally each year, with the value of this waste being as much as £12bn.

The estimate they have put together is based upon their ‘latest research findings, and involvement from practitioners such as the formal waste sector, inspectors, law enforcement officers and prosecutors’ which together suggest that only 10-40% of all e-waste is recycled in a legal and proper manner.

EU Exports to Africa and Asia

The reason behind much of the problem is believed to be down to exportation WEEE. UNEP believe that the problem is mainly caused by companies within the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) illegally exporting their WEEE to non-OECD countries, mainly in Africa and Asia. In these countries the protection of workers and environmental protection laws are less stringent and the WEEE isn’t handled within regulations ensuring it is actually being recycled.

WEEE can very easily find itself way into illegal channels because of the many valuable materials used in the protection of many products means they are in demand for stripping and selling on and also, as the report suggests, it is a cheaper method of getting rid of WEEE, rather than sending the materials for treatment via the legally approved methods and routes.

UNEP calls for improved awreness of the impact of e-waste crime and how damaging it can be to the planet and also the people in the states who are working with our waste. They are encouraging non-governmental organisations to take a key role in exposing waste crime and ensure our waste is handled legally and correctly.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Legal IT Recycling

For businesses in the UK of all sizes, it is essential that their WEEE is handled legally to avoid any repercussions of breaking WEEE legislation. An easy and peace of mind inducing option for handling your WEEE is to partner up with an approved and effective IT recycling provider.

At Buy IT Back we are committed to socially responsible, best practice and legal methods of recycling your old IT equipment, ensuring it is handled with care and that you get a good price for your equipment too, a bit of a bonus. To avoid the dangers of malpractice and damaging your company reputation, we always recommend you find a reputable partner for disposing of your old, unused equipment, rather than allowing it to be dumped at a landfill or left in your premises costing you money.

Oct 17
0

Your Business’ Green Corporate Social Responsibility

By | Business, Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling | No Comments

Corporate social responsibility has become central to many businesses infrastructure. It’s important to show how your business is playing a role in the wider community and how it is accepting its social responsibilities. One of the largest elements of your business’ corporate social responsibility is recycling and though computer recycling is a legal requirement, it’s very easy to do the bare minimum and neglect what could be a key element of your business.

Below are some ways of building your company’s green corporate social responsibility.

Optimise Energy Settings

Most UK work places require computers to function and they can be the biggest consumers of energy in the workplace. Optimise the energy settings on each machine, make it company policy to have energy saving settings in us at all times and ensure a proper shut down at the end of the night. You could do this via the fitting of a power trip or you could simply place trust in your employees. Older computer equipment is unlikely to be efficient and therefore, recycling computers and hardware should be high on your agenda to ensure you have the best possible equipment in terms of energy efficiency as well as general effectiveness.

Go Digital

The more you can digitise, the better. It means you can reduce the need for physical equipment and even trade in your equipment for a cash incentive and make more space. If you choose to utilise cloud storage and services for examples you can recycle servers and related hard drives and hardware in your office. Buy IT Back also ensures that all data from your hardware is permanently erased and your equipment is wiped clean before it is repurposed or recycled.

Be Paper Sensible

There will be things in your office which do require printing but you can still keep your green credentials at the heart of this. You can opt for refillable ink cartridges and you can also look out for paper which has a high percentage of post-consumer content and minimal chlorine bleaching. These are all ethical decisions but more than this, you can avoid printing anything you don’t specifically need to print.

Green Commute

You can begin your green ethics before you even set foot in the office. Cycle, car share or use public transport and you’re setting an example to your employees about the importance of their carbon footprint. You could even go as far as opting for an eco-friendly car or instating an employee cycle programme where bikes can be bought at a discounted price.

These are just some ways your company can work on its green credentials and incorporating them into your general strategy shouldn’t be too difficult.

Jul 29
0

First Quarter 2014 WEEE Figures looking Promising

By | Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling, News, Uncategorized | No Comments

The Environment Agency published new figures on June 5th 2014, highlighting the volume of WEEE collected in the first quarter of 2014. New WEEE regulations were put in place in January and therefore the Environment Agency was keen to see if the changes were effective. Collection levels so far have been described as ‘encouraging’ by those in charge.

The figures published showed the overall WEEE collection from January to April 2014 measured in tonnes moved here. Several industry experts and bodies including the Department for Business Innovation and Skills have made statements claiming the figures are in line with expectations.

Between January and April 2014 112,091 tonnes of all categories of WEEE were collected. The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills had a pre-set target of 490,000 tonnes collected in the whole of 2014 which means the first quarter results are slightly below target but spokespeople are upbeat and positive about the results so far.

The 2014 figure is slightly lower than that of the same period in 2013 but this was put down in part to the decline in the amount of equipment being presented for recycling. It’s another case of individuals and companies simply not realising or not following guidelines when it comes to their WEEE disposal. Tonnage decrease has also been put down to the bulkiness of items actually being disposed of with a reduction of desktop PCs and large, heavy display units in use at all and therefore the weight of the items being disposed of naturally falls.

Some critics have stated that the fall can’t be viewed positively but experts are upbeat and the bulkiness of items is being repeatedly stated as key to the change in volume, rather than the fact that less is actually being recycled.

Computer Recycling

Business computer and IT recycling makes up a large proportion of all the WEEE recycling that takes place each year. Businesses who strive to remain within EU WEEE Directive guidelines will ensure their old computers and hardware are disposed of responsibly, so they don’t end up in landfill sites.

Professional WEEE recycling companies play a key role in reaching government targets for recycling levels and as a business, choosing to work with a professional partner with industry knowledge gives you peace of mind and may save money and time in the long run.

As well as PCs and laptops other office hardware can be recycled by professional companies. Many offices may have old printers, scanners, server units and other electrical items which need a new home or can be broken down for parts. Companies like Buy IT Back also ensure businesses are paid for their old equipment so the cost of new equipment isn’t too much of a strain on the company’s bottom line.

May 03
0

Why a professional Computer Recycling Company is always best

By | Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling | No Comments

As a business owner it is important you present a professional image and are seen to have high levels of integrity. This instils trust in your customers and ensuring you dispose of old IT equipment and anything you no longer use in a responsible manner reflects on your business too.

If you’re moving offices, upgrading or simply changing a portion of your equipment then it is your duty to ensure your old equipment is disposed of responsibly. If you don’t then you’re contravening Europe-wide regulations which state you legally must dispose of these items in a conscientious way.

According to recycling experts 25% of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) which is taken to recycling centres could actually be reused. Though these figures relate to household WEEE it is highly probably the business statistics are the same. If your old equipment can be reused then rather than simply disposing of it at a recycling centre, you can use the services of a professional company who specialises in IT and electronics recycling.

At Buy I.T. Back we focus solely in this field and work to ensure your unwanted equipment finds a new home and you receive the best possible cash return for your hardware. This is just one of the benefits of working with professionals. Below are some others to keep in mind:

Save Time

Rather than trying to sell your items online or simply passing them onto someone else you can quickly and easily find out how much they’re worth through filling out our asset form. We deliver quick and accurate no-obligation quotes so you know exactly how much cash you may be able to get back.

Save Cash

Rather than having to pay to list your products or have them taken away we pay you for the privilege of selling on your items. As a professional IT recycling specialist we ensure you get the best price for your items and ensure your cash is with you in good time.

Added Security

As specialists in IT recycling we recognise the importance of data security and utilise cutting edge software to ensure sensitive data is 100% removed from all your equipment before it is resold. We can provide secure data erasure or hard disk shredding where required.

Total Peace of Mind

Above all else working with a professional computer recycling company guarantees you peace of mind. The worry of complying with WEEE recycling regulations is removed from your hands as you can be assured the professional company you’re working with operate within guidelines.

If your office is due an upgrade and you have old computer equipment and hardware which needs a new home come to us before heading to the recycling centre. You’ll get a better return and also be safe in the knowledge your equipment has been responsibly recycled.

May 02
0

Data Protection and your Business

By | Business, Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling, Data Destruction | No Comments

Business data protection exists to ensure customer details, sensitive financial information, sales figures and any other key business information is kept secure and protected. Your company’s data is probably its most valuable asset so legal protection for it is understandable.

Good business data protection ensures information is kept safe and should mean that you comply with all relevant data protection rules and legislation. Your business needs to have good protection in place but also needs safeguards in place in case of a breach.

Data Protection Regulations

The Data Protection Act 1998 is the relevant legislation that your business will need to pay attention to. It applies to all information stored about living individuals and as a business you must follow these specific steps to ensure you are compliant:

  • Tell the Information Commissioner’s Office that you process data
  • Explain to customers/clients how you store their data and give them access to it
  • Give the option of opting out of data being used
  • Maintain the data ensuring it is up to date and secure
  • Only store information for as long as it is required

Good Business Data Protection

To ensure you avoid breaches to the security of your data good business data protection should be practiced. The first step is to identify a secure space for the storage of all your data. This could be on internal network, a cloud storage option or even on business hard drives.

The second step that matters is keeping all your data 100% accurate and up to date. Outdated records are no more useful than having no data at all so a procedure for maintaining and reviewing records should be in place. Duplication’s should also be regularly checked for as mailing customers twice can result in annoyance and unnecessary costs.

As a business you must have procedures in place to ensure data protection breaches are avoided wherever possible, particular when sensitive data is involved. Below are some key measures to consider.

Secure Storage

Limit access user levels to secure data, ensuring only people who genuinely need access to the data are able to view it.

Monitor Data Release

Take precautions with the release of data. This relates to ensuring security checks are carried out before sharing data with customers via the phone or face to face.

Encrypt before Transferring

All data should be securely encrypted before transferring outside of your business. Limiting the risk of leaks.

What happens when you no longer need the data?

There are many instances where you may no longer need customer data or have moved the data elsewhere and need it erased from old hardware. Computer recycling London companies and those across the UK can choose from often includes secure data erasure.

Data erasure ensures no trace of data is left on any hardware you maybe choosing to sell on and hard disc shredding is another option many businesses consider for complete peace of mind.

Data protection breaches can cause a significant negative impact to your business, especially if it was clear there were measures you could have put in place to limit their impact. Ensuring you treat your data with respect and handle it securely, will provide further protection for your business.

May 01
0

Developing Countries becoming the eDumps of the West

By | Computer Disposal, News | No Comments
Countries in the developing world have been taken over by digital waste from the west. Computer equipment, mobile phones and more have been shipped out to huge e-waste dumps in China and Ghana and much of this activity is illegal.
It is believed that over 50,000,000 tonnes of unwanted electrical and electronic equipment ends up in the dumping grounds in both Guiyu in China and Agbogbloshie in Ghana. Some of the equipment is rebuild or redeveloped and sold on whilst the rest is broken down into component parts. Some of this can be sold on to manufacturers in raw form whilst some is simply left as toxic waste.
In the UK all businesses have a legal requirement to ensure their waste electrical and electronic equipment is disposed of responsibly but this obviously isn’t happening in every instance.
The Environmental Protection Agency figures state that recycling just 1 million mobile phone handsets, and many more are thrown out each year, 50lbs of gold, 550lbs of silver, 20lbs of palladium and over 20,000lbs of copper could be salvaged. The process of salvaging all these materials has become known as urban mining and there is so much digital junk being thrown into waste dumps in the developing world, we are all losing out.
Recycling your waste electronic and electrical equipment as a business person is an absolute legal necessity. Simply throwing it away or using a general recycling company does not ensure your waste has been dealt with properly and you could be in contravention of the law.
Instead it makes sense to work with a professional IT recycling company who guarantee responsible disposal of your equipment. Our services cover this for your entire stock of office equipment and we also ensure that you receive a fee for handing your items over to us.
We analyse and assess all your equipment and give you a quote based on the prices we can get for resale, ensuring none of your equipment is simply thrown on the landfill or shipped to an e-dump in the developing world.
Wherever possible we find ways of reselling your equipment rather than simply breaking it down for parts. A huge proportion of computer equipment which is just thrown out could actually be reused and utilising a professional service like ours means you get some cash back as well.

Cash Back for your Computer Equipment

Rather than potentially acting illegally and contributing to the already considerable problems the developing world has to contend with, your business will benefit from responsibly recycling old computers. The computer recycling London companies and those across the UK need can be provided by our specialists.
As well as cash back for your old IT hardware, we offer a full data erasure service you can be sure that even if your items are resold there is no need to worry about security features.
Giving the developing world a chance to overcome the masses of toxic e-waste building up on their land is something we should all try to do.
Mar 19
0

The Importance of Data Security and Protection for your Business

By | Business, Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling, Data Destruction | No Comments

Your business’ data is one of its most valuable assets. It is what connects you to your client base and often they have placed a high degree in trust in you to allow you to keep their data on your files. This means you have to shadowsocks respect it, you have to keep it secure and even if it’s time for an upgrade of your equipment or office space you have to securely and completely ensure every piece of hardware no longer in use is completely clear of all data.

A breach of data security is one sure-fire way to lose a considerable chunk of your customer base. Whether you’re updating all your computer equipment or simply moving from a traditional service to cloud-based storage, the old equipment needs to be recycle and the data, erased completely.

The Risk of Security Breach

Even the smallest piece of data could be enough to affect your customers or employees. Something as seemingly innocuous as an Outlook address book could be used in a malicious way in the wrong hands and therefore should be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

You should be regularly running wipes on all employee computers to ensure data that is used regularly but doesn’t need to be stored on the machine is removed immediately. This will help the machines work more effectively but also further ensures you’re treating client data with the confidentiality it deserves.

Asking employees and even utilising your IT staff to remove data from the computers is just the start however as approved software is the best option. At Buy It Back we use Blancco. Blancco holds a 100% date erasure certification procedure which entirely wipes hard drives to CESG standards – ensuring not even a single megabyte of data remains on the hard drive.

Professional Data Security and Erasure

Utilising a professional company who regularly carry out data erasure gives you the peace of mind you need for your business and your customers. Our professionals perform full hard drive wiping as well as recycling and reselling the hardware. All hardware we buy from you will be checked and in most cases resold, ensuring you get some cash back to put towards new equipment or use for your business in any way you see fit.

Data erasure comes as standard but if you’re looking for a different service there is also the option of hard drive shredding, if your company policy dictates this is necessary. All our hard drive shredding services come with certification as a batch or serial numbers for individual items.

Taking your business to the next level and keeping your equipment up to date is essential but ensure your disposal process is secure enough to protect your customers’ data and security rights.

Mar 05
0

Moving Offices? Use an IT Recycling Specialist for the Best Return

By | Business, Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling | No Comments

Moving into a new office space usually corresponds with an upgrade of hardware, systems and servers. Transferring your old equipment is usually a thankless task and you soon find it’s redundant anyway.

Moving office and upgrading at the same time makes good business sense but any canny business person will also recognise to keep costs down. Utilising a specialist IT hardware recycling company ensures you get the best return on your old equipment and you comply with your corporate legal obligations.

Trade In before Trading Up

There is always the option of trading in your equipment with its manufacturer or opting for a dealership. Both these options are commonly used but often leave you in a worse financial position than when you started! The key problems with trade ins include:

  • Being tied to one manufacturer – if you opt for a manufacturer trade in then you’re entirely limited to their branded products which may not be ideal for your new premises’ needs
  • Less for your cash – trade ins typically result in less back for your goods than choosing to sell your items via a dedicated IT buy back scheme
  • Less choice in equipment – as well as being tied into a manufacturer as above you also have a limit when it comes to the quality of equipment available to you. You may find wanting to trade up will also result in higher premiums than you were hoping for
  • Not fit for purpose – a trade in is only a good idea if you’re moving to the same types of equipment. For example, you may be hoping to trade in your oversized on-site server because you’re moving to Cloud Computing and this simply isn’t a possible trade in!

Benefits of IT and Electronic Recycling Specialists

Choosing to have your old IT hardware and equipment handled by a professional IT and electronic recycling specialist will guarantee better results. The methods used by specialist companies like ourselves guarantee the best possible return as we work to resell equipment before any other methods – getting you a higher financial reward.

In addition to this there is no swap involved – if you want to recycle your server then this can be handled and data of course will be securely erased before the data centre is resold, generating a return income for yourself to put towards your new equipment.

Ensuring your old equipment finds a new home, whether broken down for parts, or reused in its current state is a legal obligation and utilising a third party IT recycling specialist guarantees you meet these requirements too.

Jan 21
0

Effective Computer Disposal for UK Businesses

By | Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling | No Comments

The rate at which technology advances mean UK businesses require new equipment at an increasingly alarming rate. Computers become obsolete quicker than ever before and this results in a huge and terrifying mountain of computer waste. Statistics suggest that there are approximately 20 million ‘obsolete’ PCs discarded every year just in the USA and the figures in the UK won’t be far behind.

As a business it’s important you represent a corporate image which is professional and positive. Ethically disposing of used and obsolete equipment is a must for your business image and the future of the planet. Recycling computers is entirely possible as many elements of their makeup can be reused.

Computer Recycling in Depth

Computer recycling can mean breaking down the parts of a computer for reuse or it can be giving a whole unit a new home. It may be broken into usable second-hand parts and those which can be refurbished to like-new condition. There are a range of businesses 外汇交易平台 who specialise in WEEE disposal, which includes computers. As a business you can decide whether to use a company who pays you in cash or who gives you the opportunity to do something publicly philanthropic and donate the proceeds a charity of your choosing.

Why recycle?

If it isn’t clear why recycling computers should be important to UK businesses here are a few more points to consider. Recycling computers reduces landfill space and therefore limits the toxic emissions being released into the earth. It can also give people the opportunity to buy computers affordably where they may not have been able to and can support charities as they look for funds and support. Many recycled computers end up being used in literacy and IT programmes around the world.

Disposing of computer as a UK Business

As mentioned there are specialised WEEE disposal companies, such as Discovery Computer Services Ltd, who focus solely on the ethical disposal of computer hardware. Buy I.T. Back offer a comprehensive and effective scheme for a wide range of computer equipment. Small businesses can benefit and they can also be assured that all information and .

Disposing of computer equipment as a business doesn’t need to be a headache and you don’t just need to accept it’s a lost cause. Choosing to work with a reputable means you’ll earn a fee as well as getting rid of your unwanted equipment.

Dec 16
0

5 Tips For Choosing a Computer Recycling Company

By | Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling, News | No Comments

So it’s time to upgrade your old computers and other IT equipment – you want the latest in all-singing, all-dancing technology – well who doesn’t  However, next arrives the problem of deciding what to do with your old IT equipment. There are a number of Computer Recycling Companies that provide a service to recycle your unwanted electronic hardware, however how do you decide which the right company to choose is? Have a look at our list below to give you some points to bear in mind when choosing a computer recycling company.

Is the company WEEE compliant?

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) was introduced into UK law in January 2007. It aims to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it. The WEEE Directive also aims to improve the environmental performance of businesses that manufacture, supply, use, recycle and recover electrical and electronic equipment. So what does this mean for your business? Basically, all unwanted electrical equipment is now classed as hazardous waste and so has to be disposed of in a WEEE compliant manner, not doing so can result in hefty penalties being awarded to non-compliant companies. Therefore it is important to check that your computer recycling company is fully WEEE compliant.

Does the Computer Recycling Company strive to ensure that as little equipment is finally disposed of?

To ensure that your unwanted electrical equipment does more than just end up on a landfill site, check that your computer recycling company is committed to either refurbishing and then re-selling old IT hardware, or stripping down the equipment and recycling its individual parts. Companies such as Buy IT Back are committed to attaining these standards for a number of reasons. Firstly they have an intrinsic ecological outlook and are committed to that upkeep. For example old electrical equipment when dumped in landfill often poses a risk of leaking hazardous chemicals into the groundwater and these becoming a possible harmful pollutant. Also by recycling electrical components, this can mean that less of these raw materials have to be freshly mined, thus often protecting ecologically sensitive areas. And finally, by refurbishing and re-selling unwanted computers it can reduce the numbers of new electrical items that have to be manufactured thus reducing energy consumption and helping to drive the prices of new items down.

Secure Data Destruction

Can the computer recycling company that you are entrusting your business’ old IT equipment (including printers, servers, laptops, PC’s, desktops and networking/telecoms equipment) guarantee that your company data will be securely and completely destroyed? With the increasing concern over data security, identify theft and other fraud, is this an area that you can afford to ignore? However, companies such as Buy IT Back, can guarantee that all your remaining data (including all company references and security markings) will be completely destroyed by using the government certified Blannco software.

Does the Computer Recycling Company offer a Buy Back service?

Many computer recycling companies will charge you for removing your unwanted electrical equipment, however some companies such as Buy IT Back can offer a complete Buy Back service for your old IT equipment. As they can make a small profit from re-selling refurbished items, some of this can be passed directly onto your business. In general, Buy IT Back will come to your business, remove all of your unwanted IT hardware, then ensure that it is either recycled or re-sold, and pay you for doing so!

Established Business

Finally it is often worth considering choosing an established computer recycling company, as these are often more likely to be able to ensure that all of the above points are met. Discovery Computer Services Ltd, the owners of Buy IT Back, have now been in business for 20 years and as such can offer a wealth of practical knowledge and expertise to ensure that you unwanted IT equipment has all data securely destroyed, is then either recycled or refurbished, and can offer you the most generous price as part of its Buy Back Service.

Providing IT Hardware, Data Security, Recycling & Residual Value Solutions For Over 30 Years Since 1992