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