How to Safely Dispose of Electronic Devices

As one of Savannah’s biggest IT Providers, we know how important it is to keep our customers protected and secure. One of the lesser-known ways we do that is through our electronic devices recycling and disposal process.

When Business Electronics Go Bad

Over the course of a few years, a company—even a small one—can cycle through numerous devices such as desktop computers, laptops, cell phones, and tablets. Hardware can break beyond repair, become obsolete, be replaceable through a grant, or need to be replaced for other reasons.

But because these machines have been used to save and transmit data that could be confidential, they can’t simply be thrown away. They need to be disposed of properly, i.e., safely.

How We Handle Hardware

Once a computer or phone, etc., is upgraded, we first remove the device from the client’s site. This involves disabling it in our systems and making sure it cannot be used to access any servers or other client connections. Then we remove the hard drives and store them for 30 days.

This holding period is a main component of our program. It’s not necessary for every device, but it can really come in handy. Suppose you use your new device and 2 weeks in realize that some data is missing. Or maybe your favorite picture of your dog Rufus wasn’t transferred to your new computer. Those 30 days allow us to recover that data, picture, or file from your old hard drive.

Deciding to Recycle or Dispose

After the buffer period ends, we evaluate the device to see if it can be repurposed or donated. We have clients that provide outreach and after-school programs for children, and there is always a need to be filled in the community.  So when a device can have a second life, we clean it out, add new drives, and donate it. We’re able to do this with computers, monitors, keyboards, and mice. That way, the devices are not just destroyed and trashed; they can help those in need.

And here’s the fun part: we get to drill holes in the hard drives from the obsolete devices so they cannot be recovered. (Watch the 30-second video below.) Then we take whatever we can to metal recycling vendors in the area, making sure no tech goes to waste.

We pride ourselves on this process that allows us to give back to our community while still providing great, secure customer service.