More than 50% of iPhone users upgrade their phones as soon as their provider allows it. That’s usually two years after their previous upgrade. The phones that we ditch when we upgrade are usually perfectly usable. We’ve come to see electronic items as disposable; ready to be replaced as soon as something new appears.
There’s a problem with this, however: it’s generating a large amount of electronic scrap.
What Is Electronic Scrap?
Electronic scrap refers to any unwanted commercial or personal electronic equipment. This can include items such as phones, computers, printers, monitors, and more.
These kinds of items can’t just be thrown away with the rest of your trash. That’s because they can contain hazardous substances such as heavy metals or combustible material that could cause a health hazard. Another issue with throwing away items such as computers is that they could contain personal or business information that could easily fall into the wrong hands.
All the data in discarded electronic devices must be destroyed to ensure your business and your clients are safe. Even if the device appears to be destroyed or is simply not working this does not mean that the data has also been destroyed. Confidential data may remain in CPUs and internal hard drives. Many businesses also discard external hard drives, often because they become defective. However, the data on hard drives remains recoverable with the right technology and know-how. Even hard drives that do not work and are physically damaged pose a risk to your security because the data remains accessible.It’s not enough to discard electronic devices if they may contain storage. They must be destroyed safely and securely. At IntelliShred, we can process your electronic scrap to give you peace of mind and protect your business and clients.
How To Get Rid Of Electronic Scrap
E-waste materials can’t just be tossed in a landfill – there are laws which require the safe disposal of e-waste because it may contain hazardous substances which could seriously damage our environment and public health. The National Safety Council projects that mobile phones are discarded at a rate of 130 million per year and nearly 250 million computers will be obsolete in the next five years.
Selling
As we have seen, people often get rid of phones that are only two years old and still in perfect working order. If you have a fairly new piece of electronic equipment, you may be able to sell it. You can use online marketplaces, or there are websites that specialize in purchasing used electronics. Admittedly this is only passing the problem of disposal to someone else, but it makes sense that the item gets used for as long as it can.
Donation
If your electronic items are a little older, you may not be able to sell them for much money. In this case, you should consider donating them. There are plenty of charities who would appreciate your donation.
A Certified Electronic Scrap Disposal Company
If you have confidential data on your device, then find a certified electronic scrap disposal company.
It’s critical to destroy confidential information before discarding your devices. By working with IntelliShred, you can ensure that your confidential information is physically destroyed. You should note that formatting a drive does not destroy all your confidential information. It prepares a drive to be written on again and it can make the data harder to access, but it is not irrecoverable. The only way to ensure that your data cannot be recovered is to physically destroy the drive.
IntelliShred uses cutting-edge technology and practices to ensure that we destroy e-waste with 100% success. We have many years of data destruction experience so you can rely on us to make sure that your e-waste is discarded securely.
Don’t leave it to chance. Career criminals are actively looking for e-waste for opportunities for fraud, ransom, and identity theft. And data lost accidentally is still lost data, which can lead to the erosion of trust and your reputation within the industry. Leave it to IntelliShred to safeguard your data with our secure the waste disposal service.
It’s by far the safest option.
We Can Answer Your Questions
For more information on what you need to destroy, why, and how, please get in touch with us. Our experienced professionals are looking forward to providing you with the information you need. We’ll make sure your business is secure and reduce your risk of data protection problems and fines.
If you need bulk waste disposal due to changes in regulations, relocation, or any other reason, we can handle anything you throw at us. If your business is more likely to need occasional or regular waste disposal, we can offer a flexible service.
While businesses differ, the need to destroy confidential information is universal. We understand what is required and we can get the job done. Our team of experts can handle secure disposal of any items you need – keep your business safe from data breaches and information theft with our small business fraud prevention shredding. Contact us today for more information.
