Computer Recycling and the WEEE Directive: What You Need to Know

Watch out for scraps when recycling your old equipment

For many businesses across the UK, arranging for the quick and convenient disposal of obsolete electrical or IT equipment can seem like just another paperwork – find the cheapest quote and book a collection date. Job done and more important things…

However, before you see that battered old white van loaded with your old computer equipment, drive the distance you need to make sure you just entrusted your computer equipment recycling to a reputable company, or else you could find him. she costs him much more than he expected.

The WEEE Directive – Your Legal Responsibility for Computer Recycling

Introduced into European law in 2007, this important directive covers the responsible disposal and recycling of WAste meelectrical and meelectronic meequipment (or WEEE) – basically everything in your office or workplace that has a plug or runs on electricity purchased since 2005. This is deceptively complex legislation that sets strict rules about not just throwing away old electrical equipment.

Your laptop, desktop, even an old monitor are actually loaded with valuable raw materials that need to be recycled. However, many of these items are actually classified as ‘toxic’ or known carcinogens (substances known or suspected to cause cancer). Therefore, all reputable IT recycling companies must hold valid legal licences, including an environmental permit.

Simply dumping this equipment into a landfill is highly irresponsible and illegal, leading to severe penalties for those involved. Unfortunately, for most disreputable computer recycling companies, operating within the law may be secondary to making some quick money.

Even if you are not directly fined, the damage to your company’s reputation, market share, and public image by being associated with irresponsible recycling of electrical equipment can be serious.

It’s not just the physical equipment: secure data destruction and you

Nowadays, both companies and individuals take due care regarding who has access to personal data. Most companies or organizations (including hospitals or universities) have a wealth of information about customers, patients, students, and the like. To the modern, tech-savvy criminal, this data is pure gold dust, enabling them to perpetrate any number of lucrative scams and thefts.

As such, the UK Data Protection Act makes it clear that it is the responsibility of a company or organization to ensure that this information does not fall into the wrong hands; this even extends to the disposal of old computer and IT equipment.

There have been a number of historical cases where businesses and establishments have been heavily fined when data has not been securely deleted. Under this legislation, you may be surprised to learn that it is the responsibility of the company or organization to take all reasonable steps to ensure that all data on your old equipment is destroyed, NOT the company doing the recycling…

As with the WEEE directive, the most reputable IT recycling companies are more concerned with keeping your money than complying with the law. Therefore, it is very likely that your hard drives, loaded with sensitive data, will fall into the wrong hands.

Trust the UK Computer Recycling Professionals

When looking for an IT disposal partner for all of your computer recycling needs, it’s essential that you choose a reputable and reliable company and be on your guard against third-party computer recycling cost companies that promise reduced rates (cutting bills).