Top Ways Your Data is Secured When You Recycle E-Waste

One of the reasons many businesses, nonprofits and schools give for not properly recycling their e-waste is the fear that sensitive data will be compromised. This fear is not unwarranted. Data compromise can critically injure a company’s ability to function in the marketplace or cause significant damage to public trust. What may be surprising, though, is that apart from a hacking incident, improper data destruction is actually more compromising to your data than properly recycling it. Here are some of the top ways your data is secured when you choose to properly recycle your e-waste.

The Right Data Destruction Plan

First, proper recycling practices ensure that the kind of data that needs destroyed is assessed for its own unique needs. Whether the product will be refurbished or destroyed, a comprehensive plan should include each piece of equipment.

Secure Transportation

Secure transport is another critical feature of proper recycling practices for data security. A good company will ensure that the data is protected while in-transit and then properly removed and destroyed when it reaches its destination. Security starts from the moment of pick up.

Other Facets of Electronic Recycling

Proper recycling can include de-installation, document shredding or even equipment shredding. Wiping a hard drive is simply not enough. Doing it yourself is an even riskier procedure. If a computer, for example, can be refurbished and resold, it is important to wipe the data, and only a trained professional should do this. But sometimes a piece of equipment needs to be totally destroyed, and in this case, proper recycling can ensure this happens in a safe, data controlled and efficient way.

Choosing the Right E-Waste Recycling Center

In light of this information, it is important to work with an experienced recycling company that can evaluate whether a product can be effectively refurbished or whether it still may have viable parts and those can be recycled. This can help your business recoup some of the money invested in technology.

Proper E-Waste Removal and Recycling

Proper practices mean that your business should receive a full report regarding the entire process, including any certificates of destruction that you can then use for reporting purposes to other parties.

In the instances where equipment must be totally destroyed, it pays to work with a recycling business that can ensure it simply isn’t dumped into a landfill. For one thing, your business could face costly environmental fines for improperly dumping e-waste. But it is important to properly recycle this equipment on quality of life grounds as well, given the toxicity and volume of some e-waste.

Recycle and Protect Your Important Data

Technology upgrades and purchases are one of the highest reoccurring business expenditures. Have a plan to properly recycle and protect your important data with a recycling business that understands your unique needs.