3 Easy Steps to Dispose of Office Electronics Safely

Disposing of outdated office computers, printers and copiers – many of which contain lead, mercury and cadmium – the right way not only protects the environment, it staves off the efforts of data thieves.    

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 18 percent of discarded electronics were recycled in 2007, while 1.84 million tons of TVs, cell phones, computers and other electronics ended up in landfills.

Thanks to ramped up ecycling efforts, small businesses have options when it comes to discarding electronics, including community ecycling events, such as Shred, eCycle & Share sponsored by the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northern Colorado. The second annual event is from 9 a.m.to noon Oct. 23 at The Ranch in Loveland.

In addition, ecycling businesses are becoming easier to find and charge minimal fees.

The BBB recommends taking the following steps to ensure that all hazardous and data-sensitive office equipment is disposed of properly:

Step 1: Identify hazardous and data-sensitive electronics

The following office equipment contains toxic materials or sensitive data and should be recycled responsibly and not just tossed into the garbage:

• Computer CPUs
• Mobile phones
• Copiers, printers and fax machines
• Monitors, keyboards, speakers and mice
• Landline phones
• Computer cables and wires
• TVs, VCRs, DVRs and stereos

Step 2: Destroy Sensitive Data
While most electronics have toxic components, some also contain sensitive business information stored on the hard drive. Make sure all data is erased before getting rid of the following electronics:

• Computers: You can purchase inexpensive software to wipe a computer’s hard drive, but the data could still be retrievable to a determined person. If you have extremely sensitive information, the most secure way of destroying the data is to remove and physically destroy the hard drive.
• Copiers and Printers: Copiers and printers have internal hard drives that save digital copies of printed documents. Consult the manual to find out how to wipe the memory; you can also use third-party software to overwrite the hard drive. The most secure way of erasing data is to physically destroy the hard drive — as long as you don’t lease the product. If you lease, consult with the company on how your data will be erased.
• Mobile Phones: Consult the owner’s manual or search online for directions on how to wipe the phone’s memory. Remove the SIM card if your phone has one.

Step 3: Proper Disposal
When it comes to getting rid of outdated office electronics, your options depend on the condition of the item, the retailer, the manufacturer and, in some cases, state laws. Following are the main disposal methods to consider:

• Donate – Schools, charities and community organizations welcome used electronics such as computer equipment, phones, copiers and printers as long as they are in proper working condition. Your donation may even be tax deductible.
• Ecycle –Many companies break down and recycle old electronics for free or minimal fees. To locate a BBB Accredited ecycler, visit wynco.bbb.org /Find-Business-Reviews
• Return – Some manufacturers including Cannon and Apple and even retailers such as Best Buy and Costco provide “take back” programs to help customers recycle their old products safely and cheaply. Every major cell phone carrier will also take your old cell phone and donate it to a charity or dispose it properly.  The EPA has a list of manufacturer and retailer programs online at http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm
• Resell – While more labor intensive, you might make a little money selling your electronics through auction websites or online classifieds.  Be wary if any buyers overpay or ask you to wire money for any reason. And make sure any hard drives are wiped clean.

Start With Trust. For more small business advice on how to manage data check out Data Security – Made Simpler at www.bbb.org/data-security. And for additional small business tips and information, visit wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371.  Don’t go a day without your BBB. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and  Flickr.