{"id":18858,"date":"2018-01-12T11:43:14","date_gmt":"2018-01-12T16:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quantumlifecycle.com\/staging\/recycling-horror-stories-vital-use-certified-electronics-recycler\/"},"modified":"2023-09-06T16:21:20","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T20:21:20","slug":"recycling-horror-stories-vital-use-certified-electronics-recycler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quantumlifecycle.com\/en_CA\/blog\/recycling-horror-stories-vital-use-certified-electronics-recycler\/","title":{"rendered":"Recycling Horror Stories: Why It\u2019s Vital to Use a Certified Electronics Recycler"},"content":{"rendered":"
There was a time – way back when computers, laptops, and other IT equipment were relatively new to the corporate scene – when disposing of unwanted electronics<\/a> didn\u2019t warrant much consideration. In fact, the key motivating factor for many businesses was: can they come and pick it up? And if the chosen recycler picked up for free, so much the better.<\/p>\n But times have changed, and most recycling initiatives<\/a> are being driven by some combination of:<\/p>\n No longer can the responsible IT manager simply hand off their obsolete electronics to whomever is willing to take them. Certifications matter. They protect your company and your reputation. And they allow you to sleep at night knowing your assets are being properly managed.<\/p>\n What are some of the risks you face if your organization does not <\/em>use a certified electronics recycler<\/a>?<\/p>\n Increased Liability<\/strong> \u2013 A certified electronics recycler<\/a> always<\/em> manages data properly – even when the customer hasn\u2019t asked them to. That\u2019s because the standards for electronics recyclers<\/a> DEMAND robust data handling procedures that include wiping and physical destruction. One college<\/a> in Calgary, Alberta learned this lesson the hard way a few years ago – to the tune of $250,000 in costs and reputational damage.<\/p>\n Environmental Damage<\/strong> \u2013 By now, most of us have read at least one article about the toxic compounds found in electronics. Lead. Mercury. All manner of nasty stuff that first accumulates in our soil and water, then moves up the food chain to cause serious developmental delays in children, and health issues amongst the rest of us. A powerful documentary released over a decade ago starkly outlines this problem<\/a> at a global level.<\/p>\n Why expose yourself and your organization to hazards like these when you can protect your company by doing a little digging? Here are some important questions you should be asking your current recycler:<\/p>\n R2 has emerged as the global standard most recognized by IT professionals when it comes to electronics reuse<\/a> and recycling.<\/p>\n\n
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