The Connection, Inc Blog

Nothing lasts forever - especially your business’ technology. However, you shouldn’t just get rid of your old technology willy-nilly. This is mostly for two reasons: one, many of the components in our technology are really bad for the environment; two, carelessly disposing of technology is a great way to put your data at risk. In order to protect your data, you need to make sure that your old equipment is properly disposed of.

The Two-Pronged Risk of Improper Disposal
Like we said, there are two major issues to cutting corners when ridding your business of its old tech. First, there’s the potential environmental impact that could be incurred.

In order to work the way, we want them to, many devices (especially mobile ones) rely on parts and components that can potentially cause some significant damage to the environment. In addition to the materials that simply aren’t biodegradable, most devices contain hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium - not to mention their lithium batteries. These materials have a tendency to gradually seep into their surrounding environment, effectively poisoning the land and the water around them. This ultimately loops back around to human beings and has been shown to cause toxic buildup in our systems, leading to serious health issues like cancer.

In addition to these risks, there is also the risk that any data left on an improperly disposed-of device could be stolen and leveraged by a dumpster-diving cybercriminal. Depending on what information the device held, this could very easily contribute to some serious issues on the part of the business. Whether it is your own business’ sensitive data or that of your clients, it needs to be properly removed before the device in question leaves your oversight.

Ideas for Tech Disposal and Repurposing
There are a few options you have for getting rid of your older technology, each with its own benefits.

• Find a reputable recycler. Find a recycler who you trust to properly dispose of your technology after completely destroying any data. There are many vendors who can help you to accomplish this.
• Donate your old technology. If there isn’t anything wrong with your old tech, and you just need to upgrade to support improved solutions, you could consider donating your old devices to a local school or other similar outlet. Of course, you should make sure that all data has been appropriately removed before handing them over.
• Double-check that you can’t still use it. There is a chance that an upgrade or two would enable you to continue utilizing a particular piece of hardware. If not, perhaps there is somewhere else in your organization that it can still be leveraged. Is there anyone else using an older machine in your organization that wouldn’t mind getting a hand-me-down? If a device can still support another staff member’s use, you might as well pass it to them and reduce the amount of waste you produce.

If you need assistance changing over to new devices and being rid of the old, reach out to The Connection. We can ensure that you have the solutions you need for success, without putting your security in jeopardy. Reach out to us at (732) 291-5938 to learn more.

Let me ask you a simple question: how many cell phones have you had over the years? For some of us, upgrades are a yearly occurrence. For others possibly bi-yearly. Have you ever wondered where your old cell phone goes after it is out of your hands? 

Recycling is an important, but commonly forgotten topic in today’s digital age. Electrical devices are not something that can be mixed into your local landfill. It is a very toxic, hazardous waste. In various states across the US, it is actually illegal to dispose of electronics in the trash. So why is this?

Take a Look at What Is Inside

Inside of most electrical devices, you’ll find common materials such as aluminum, copper, and sometimes gold. Aluminum is typically used to create the structure of these electrical devices. It is a very common, strong, lightweight material. Copper and gold are excellent conductors and very resistant to corrosion when housed correctly. However, contained within most electrical devices are also toxic elements and materials. Sulfur, mercury, lead, chromium, beryllium oxide, cadmium; some or all of these could be lurking in that computer monitor you’re about to send off to the local landfill. 

Dispose of them Safely

As you might imagine with the ever-growing amount of electrical devices, there isn’t one set in stone procedure for all of this waste. There are also devices which most people do not even consider to be e-waste but should not be thrown away. When devices are sent away, typically they are crushed into as small of a space as possible. In this process, toxic chemicals and materials become exposed. Electrical devices typically need to be disassembled in order to be disposed of safely. E-waste is typically sent to processing plants which specialize in disassembling these products. While this is a safer route -- deconstructing these products is still a dangerous task. Let’s take a look at one example.

Samsung Note 7 -- A Hot Topic 

In the manufacturing industry, recalls are not uncommon. Devices are typically rigorously tested before leaving the plant, but what happens when a fatal flaw appears? This is exactly what happened with the Samsung Note 7. While models were quickly pulled from shelves, the batteries that powered them still are used in a variety of products. These batteries became notorious for short circuiting, which led to them combusting or even exploding. These devices required manual disassembling. 

Workers at the recycling plant were in charge of disassembling these potentially dangerous devices. They were equipped with heavy duty gloves, tongs, and even fire containment bins. What makes these devices different from the AA batteries you change every few months in your TV remote, is the fact that they are lithium ion batteries. These contain thousands of connected cells meaning they have an incredible amount of potential energy. This is why they can be so destructive.

Different battery technologies are enabling consumers to have longer lasting, more powerful devices. Whether it’s your new and improved battery in your smartphone, or your battery powered lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, or even the self-balancing hover board you purchased for Tim’s 12th birthday that just broke; these electrical devices need to be handled responsibly.

So, what do you do? Recycle battery powered devices, or dispose of them?

All devices, whether it’s your outdated cell phone, your undersized computer monitor, or even your in-home appliances -- all should be handled properly if you decide their product life has expired. You don’t know what toxic material is lurking in the underbelly of your device, and when dealing with your environment waste plant workers lives; it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If the time has come and replacing office devices has become imminent, The Connection can help. Our professionals have the know-how to make sure you are disposing of your devices safely and in a responsible manner, without risking losing or exposing critical data. Call (732) 291-5938 to learn more.