Choosing an E-Recycler
SF Bay Area

When considering recycling end-of-life computers and electronics, planning should include risk reduction, data security and minimizing health risks.

The consequences of improper electronics recycling can substantially elevate a company's risk exposure. In recent years, some companies experienced data security breaches when data was not totally destroyed. Also, United Nations news reports have revealed widespread illegal dumping of e-waste in developing countries. Improperly managed end-of-life electronics place your company at risk including:

Some e-waste recyclers might not recycle at all; instead, they resell equipment or export items to developing countries. This behavior exposes companies to a range of data security and environmental and brand protection liabilities. Open-ended recycling also provides no accountability. When selecting a responsible recycler, examine their system of tracing electronics recycling and the transparency of the process.

Recyclers that are only concerned with protecting data on computers and servers are not recommended by DRM. Ask recyclers for their security policies, and verify their procedures. Prior to resale, are hard drives wiped to NIST SP 800-88 recommendations? Are the recyclers' members of the R2 Solutions?

All organizations need data security, some more than others. Unfortunately, sensitive information is sometimes not secure enough, particularly when equipment disposal is involved. Ensure that your recycler is up-to-date with industry standard requirements.

DRM data security meets or exceeds industry standards. Our data wiping services provide accountability, peace-of-mind, and accountability and eliminate potential compliance risks associated with retired IT assets.

Every year U.S corporations pay millions of dollars in data security violation fines. Proprietary data resides on company computing systems and on employees' personal computers. Data security and privacy standards are particularly beneficial at a firm where intellectual property is critical to success. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Gramm Leach Bliley, and HIPAA compliance require data erasure of disposed of computers.

An electronics recycling company should be committed to protecting people's health and the environment. There are vendors who adopt the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship. The criteria were established by environmental groups for recognizing electronic recyclers that dispose of hazardous electronic components based on national and international laws. These recyclers agree not to transport hazardous electronic waste to developing countries, landfills, or to prison operations in the US.

As a full-service end of a life technology asset management company, DRM maintains the ability to process a wide variety of equipment. DRM customer service agents are experts at designing customized solutions that reduce data security and environmental risks associated with disposing of computer and electronic equipment. For additional information about DRM e-waste recycling, asset recovery and remarketing, data security solutions, asset disposition, flexible and secure logistics services or environmentally responsible processes, contact us today at (415) 366-8120 or by email: info@computerrecyclingsf.com with any questions.