Peeling Back the Electronic Waste Onion

We all know that in a recession, it’s easier to forget about the importance of ecologically responsible management of e-waste. Nevertheless, I wanted to share this information to answer questions that should be asked of your e-waste recycler, ideally before you engage them, so that you can better determine how they would fit within your organization’s operating philosophy.

Asset Management
Companies manage your electronic assets both for data security and any monetary returns that can be derived from marketable items. In doing so, these companies also generate e-waste from obsolete equipment that doesn’t have resale markets. But a good company will have, at minimum these process capabilities:
• Equipment accounting system
• Data erasure
• Repair or upgrade
• Install operating system
• Retail and channel sales
• Inventory system
• E-waste sorting method
• E-waste management system

So what do I mean by e-waste management? It includes such elements as:
• Scientifically tracking and managing e-waste
• Quantifying e-waste resources and toxins
• Evaluating the feasibility of various ewaste recovery processes
• Assuring tangible ewaste treatment transparency throughout
• Comprehensively auditing e-waste treatment technology and facility.

Once you’ve appraised your situation relative to e-waste management, you should select specific vendor companies based on their physical processing capabilities, crucially including their ability to reclaim certain elements for reuse rather than subbing out work to other companies. That means the combination of companies you’re engaging should be able to demonstrate treatment of items such as these:
• Both low-value and high-value ewaste (resource) material
• Lead Acid batteries
• Ni/Ca batteries
• Lithium batteries
• Mercury
• Leaded circuit cards
• CRT glass
• Polymers
• Hard Drives
• Toner
• Steel
• Copper
• Aluminum
• Fiberglass
• Precious Metals

A good company will provide their audit, tracking methods and document treatment procedures for all the items mentioned above. By engaging the services of a responsible vendor, your company will attain complete transparency in the electronic asset recovery process.

As always, I welcome any questions or comments.