| We live in a "technocentric" culture, | | | | short computer life spans and are now |
| depending heavily on our PDAs, cell | | | | improving the performance of their |
| phones and laptops, the networks that | | | | machines. According to Gartner Inc., |
| keep us connected, and the Plasma and | | | | longer computer life has given a serious |
| LCD technology that lets us view media | | | | boost to the market for used computers |
| in ever sharper resolution. But | | | | and peripherals. In fact, Gartner |
| technological innovation, while making | | | | expects very strong growth in used |
| life easier and more entertaining, has | | | | computer sales over the next few years. |
| its costs. Consider all of the old | | | | Disposal Even if you practice "green |
| technology discarded when a newer model | | | | computing" there may come a time when |
| comes along. What happens to it? Despite | | | | disposal is the only option. To ensure |
| increased awareness of the problems of | | | | that equipment disposal has minimal |
| e-waste, old computers can still find | | | | effects on the environment, many |
| their way into landfills where they can | | | | businesses hire a third-party IT asset |
| leach toxins, or be shipped for | | | | disposal (ITAD) firm. Here are a few |
| processing to developing countries with | | | | pointers about selecting an ITAD firm |
| few regulations in place to protect the | | | | from Joe Strathmann, writing for |
| health of workers. Since the European | | | | greencomputing.com: - Data - You need to |
| Union's Waste Electrical and Electronic | | | | know that the firm will "wipe" the |
| Equipment Directive was passed in 2003, | | | | machine clean. You also need to ask |
| considerable attention has been directed | | | | about its auditing processes to ensure |
| toward solving the problem of e-waste. | | | | that the firm meets all applicable |
| As a result, it is now easier for | | | | regulatory standards for data security. |
| businesses to become better stewards of | | | | - Paper Trail - The firm should provide |
| the environment while still keeping | | | | you with a certificate of destruction |
| current with technology. New Options For | | | | that lists the machine's serial number, |
| Business What can businesses do to | | | | describes how data was removed, and |
| minimize the environmental damage from | | | | indicates whether the machine was |
| their old equipment? Here are a few | | | | recycled or sold. - Dollars and Cents - |
| suggestions: - Reduce the Need - Buy | | | | The cost of proper disposal has come |
| smart so that a computer can grow with | | | | down as the ITAD industry has matured, |
| an employee. Cascade older equipment to | | | | but you need to make sure that the firm |
| users with less technologically | | | | you choose follows industry standards, |
| demanding jobs. Equipment rentals can | | | | regardless of the cost of its service. - |
| also get you through crunch times | | | | Recycling vs. Landfill - What will the |
| without forcing you to acquire a lot of | | | | ITAD firm do with old system components? |
| new technology. - Reuse - Instead of | | | | Check that they will recycle according |
| dumping old equipment, find a non-profit | | | | to industry best practices and not just |
| organization that can redirect it to | | | | toss parts into a landfill or dump them |
| someone who can use it. People with | | | | in an unregulated facility in another |
| disabilities, at-risk students and | | | | country. With a little resourcefulness |
| low-income families are just some of the | | | | you can reduce the environmental impact |
| beneficiaries of such programs. - Buy | | | | of the hardware your business acquires. |
| Used - Consider used equipment the next | | | | When the time for equipment disposal |
| time you are looking to purchase | | | | comes, a little research will help you |
| hardware. Technology firms are | | | | select a reputable and affordable ITAD |
| recognizing the detrimental effect of | | | | firm. |