Freedom can answer all of your questions about
the recycling of electronic equipment. Give us a call at (301) 223-4123. Here are a few of the questions we get
most often.
Is there a cost to dispose of my electronic
equipment?
For environmentally responsible electronics
recycling, there is a cost. This is due to the low residual value of old electronic equipment, the cost of removing
and properly managing the hazardous materials contained in the equipment, ensuring that any proprietary data is completely
destroyed and maintaining a facility that adheres to best-in-class environmental, health and safety standards and regulations.
What forms of payment does Freedom accept?
Freedom invoices clients upon receipt of equipment. Payment is
normally due in 30 days via company check or via Master Card or Visa. The general public pays upon delivery.
Why can't I donate my equipment?
Donation programs can work well if all parties
understand the limits and liabilities associated with the transfer of the equipment. Some questions need to be asked.
For instance, who will ensure that proprietary data is eliminated before the donation? For example, both the Gramm-Leach-Bliley
Act and HIPAA regulations make corporations legally responsible for protecting client privacy. Data and files that are
released in any way can lead to corporate liability.
This usually means hard drives must be properly
wiped (making the data unrecoverable by conventional means) and bringing the unit back to a C prompt before donation.
Other donation questions
Who is responsible for the software and licensing?
Does the equipment meet the performance level the donee requires? Organizations donating equipment do not want to be
accused of "dumping" on schools and charities. If the equipment does not meet the needs of the donee or when it becomes
obsolete, then who is responsible for it's recycling? Schools and charities typically do not have budgets to sustain
costly recycling programs.
Isn't my equipment worth something?
With the cost of new computer equipment dropping
lower and lower, your used equipment is worth less and less (worth-less?). The resale market for used equipment in the
United States is extremely low and even though you may have paid a thousand dollars for the equipment you are replacing, the
current system requirements to run most software cannot be met by older machines. Who would pay more than a few dollars
for a used machine with no software, when a brand new computer can be purchased for around $500.00 loaded with software?
What are the environmental risks to improper
disposal?
Cutting corners on electronics recycling can
lead to environmental liability down the road. Equipment that is not handled by a qualified electronics recycler can
end up in embarrassing places. Stories of this type abound including equipment stacked in a field in a county in Maryland,
monitors pulled from the Potomac River, and storage units filled and abandoned.
Protect your company! Choose your recycler
carefully!
What risks/liabilities might there be with
the improper disposition of electronic equipment?
- Environmental liability
- Privacy (data security!)
- Technology transfer to unwelcome
parties
- Public perception (bad publicity)
- Government perception (bad publicity, fines/penalties)
