How To Recycle Electronics And Stay Secure

Our technology is advancing at incredible rates and prices are decreasing, making it all more affordable. Therefore, we’re also discarding devices like computers, phones, tablets, storage drives, MP3 players, TVs, and more, at an increased rate. E-waste continues to be on the rise and a major problem.

Landfills clogged with old devices endanger the environment with potential chemical leakage, and improper recycling techniques create dangerous pollution for workers and surrounding populations. The materials found in old electronics can be used again, which helps save resources. But, some people are unsure of what to do with their unused and old technology that is safe and secure.  

Chemicals like lead, cadmium, and beryllium can leak into the soil and water table if electronics are left to languish in a landfill. Materials from North America are often shipped off to developing nations where they’re burned in incinerators and workers are exposed to toxic fumes and conditions. Extra remnants from these dangerous processes that can’t be salvaged are dumped unsafely. All electronics should be properly destroyed and recycled by reputable, certified businesses.  

Individuals and businesses will often keep electronics around, stashed away in closets or in storage. These are still considered to be e-waste, even though they’re sitting in a box somewhere. This is also a security risk because forgotten devices and drives, along with disks and old paper files, are at risk of exposing sensitive data.

Any of these things could be accidentally thrown away during cleanups or moves, and out-of-sight, out-of-mind technology can be stolen for identity theft purposes. Many data breaches are analog in nature, i.e., no hacking is required.  

Donating or leaving old electronics out for recycling is dangerous, as well. The City of Toronto’s program, for example, expects people to leave their old laptops, phones or drives out at the road and in easy view for city workers to collect them. Unfortunately, this also makes them obvious to would-be ID thieves. Even if a drive has been wiped, data can still be recovered. The best and safest way to ensure personal information is not accessed, and to also have the materials recycled, is to have professionals come in and take care of it.  

In the Toronto area and beyond Absolute Destruction & Recycling provides on-site hard drive and electronic device destruction, including discs, microfiche, credit cards, and tapes, as well as computers other devices. They guarantee safe handling, complete destruction of data that is irretrievable, and proper recycling afterward.

They complete the job on-site, so you can visually verify the work is done, rather than have your items taken away to a facility. For businesses, federal and provincial laws require certain steps be taken to protect consumer information, so it’s of the utmost importance that certified professionals handle this task for you.  

With degaussers and data wipes consistently failing to safely remove sensitive information from old technology, an expert destruction company that guarantees security and proper recycling beats the other options for e-waste disposal in all categories. Look for a company that is a member of the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) like Absolute Destruction & Recycling. Protect the personal information of employees, clients, your family, and yourself while also protecting the environment!