Just as trees restart their life cycle by shedding leaves after the summer has passed, businesses renew their technology and discard replaced equipment when upgrades become available. While organizing materials into neat piles, stuffing it into bags and hauling them to the dump is a great way to handle yard refuse, significantly more care should be taken when disposing of business technology — and don’t even think about trying to use a leaf blower.

Few people realize that cyber criminals are ‘raking it in’ from schemes that involve stealing data from old computers, servers, tablets and other devices found thrown away in standard dumpsters or are collecting dust around the office. Perhaps even less known, is that working with uncertified fly-by-night companies that offer electronics recycling services can pose similar risks.

Don’t Leave Your E-Waste with Just Any Company
Fly-by-night electronics recycling organizations often leave customers in the dark as to how their e-waste is handled. While they may claim to offer electronics recycling that is safe and sustainable, their practices are often quite the opposite. Motivated by profit, your e-waste could be sold to the highest bidder without much consideration for information security or environmental impact.

The best way to ensure your data is effectively destroyed and your equipment is disposed of sustainably is by working with a qualified electronics recycler. Doing so will afford you peace of mind that your digital assets are protected from unauthorized access and handled in compliance with all applicable regulatory standards, including GDPR, HIPAA, Gramm-Leach-Bliley and others.

When considering hiring an electronics recycling company, inquire about the following credentials:

• NAID (The National Association for Information Destruction) Membership
• RIOS (Recycling Industry Operating Standard) Certification
• R2 (Responsible Recycling) or the updated R2v3 Certification

At PC Survivors, we proudly hold each one of the designations listed above. Our facility and practices are subjected to rigorous annual third-party audits to uphold our status. Businesses of every size and across diverse industries in Massachusetts and throughout the United States rely on our team to deliver e-waste management solutions that they can be confident about.

For even more assurance that your information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands, you’re welcome to request a Certificate of Destruction and/or a Certificate of Recycling Completed for your records. Data Destruction and Completed Recycling Certificates can include the detailed serial numbers and unique identifying information about the items that we’ve properly destroyed and recycled for you.

Don’t be tempted by too good to be true electronics recycling that could cause data leaks and privacy issues for your business. Reach out to our seasoned team this fall and we’ll be happy to help you.