How to Sustainably Dispose of Used Technology

You can repair, sell or donate your used technology if it is in suitable condition. However, if the hardware has reached its end of life, then seek out a certified e-waste recycler who is qualified to safely handle and dispose of it.

No matter what, all technology has an end of life. You can extend its lifecycle through repairs, manage the usage and generally take the best care of it you possibly can, but at some point, your device will no longer be able to serve the purpose you require it to. However, the end of life for your hardware does not signify the end of your responsibility with it. Arguably the most important decision you will make with the device is how you are going to dispose of it.

Can I Throw My IT in the Bin?

The short answer is no, the long answer is absolutely not - disposing of e-waste in the same way as you throw any rubbish away can lead to catastrophic effects to the environment.

E-waste is the fastest growing solid waste stream in the world. Currently, the UK alone is producing around 2 million tonnes of e-waste per year, while globally we produce over 50 million tonnes.

E-waste contains a variety of harmful chemicals and materials that can be released into the surrounding environment if not disposed of correctly. The result can be water and air pollution, which in turn affects the health of nearby crops, animals and humans. Not only does e-waste harbour toxic chemicals, but it also takes an extremely long time to decompose, with studies finding that certain materials in e-waste can take as long as 1 million years to decompose.

What Materials are in My E-waste?

Your hardware isn’t just full of harmful chemicals and materials. Precious metals are commonly used in electronic devices due to their conductive properties and chemical stability. 7% of the world’s gold is currently tied up in disused electronics, and responsible recycling provides the opportunity to reclaim this vital resource. Other precious metals such as copper and silver can also be found in e-waste, and the more of these that we can reuse the better.

How do I Responsibly Recycle E-waste?

The first step is to assess your options with local recyclers. Be sure to look out for accreditations, such as R2v3, as these signify a company's requirements to ethically recycle any hardware they receive.

Security related accreditations are also important, as these ensure data security for any devices that may still harbour sensitive data. Once you find a suitable recycler, all you need to do is agree a price for the equipment, and decide how the redundant IT will be transported to the recycling facility.

Resource Recovery at Techbuyer

Resource Recovery is our e-waste recycling team here at Techbuyer, providing you with bespoke solutions to your unique requirements.

Our team offer sustainable e-waste recycling alongside our refurbishment process to help reduce the impact of e-waste on the environment. Our team can both digitally and physically sanitise your devices to give you peace of mind regarding your data security.

We harvest redundant equipment for parts that can be used to extend the lifecycle of other equipment, feeding into the circular economy. We then work with our recycling partners to ensure we retrieve as much material as possible from redundant IT that can no longer be used, and we have positioned ourselves at the forefront of e-waste recycling technology.

Recycle your e-waste responsibly and sustainably with Techbuyer’s Resource Recovery team. With a zero-to-landfill guarantee as well as an R2v3 certification, you can rest assured that your redundant IT is in responsible hands.

For a free quote and the best value from your redundant IT equipment, visit our Resource Recovery page. Let us help you turn your surplus technology into a new opportunity.