Problem Solver

Q: I am getting new computers for my company. How can I dispose of the old ones?

Don’t dump them in the garbage. Instead, locate a full-service IT asset disposition and electronics recycling firm, and make sure it’s focused on protecting the environment. "If these computers are not disposed properly, the environment could suffer the effects of dangerous carcinogens and toxins" that seep into the ground, says Barry Shevlin, CEO of Network Liquidators, a buyer and seller of pre-owned networking equipment.

How do you know if the firm isn’t just tossing your computers in the trash—and charging you for it?

One way is to find out if the firm has a structure in place that ensures compliance with environmental legislation on federal and state levels. Such laws as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act hold companies and organizations responsible for protecting information about their customers and employees. Reputable electronic recycling companies use state-of-the-art data-sanitization methods, which exceed U.S. Department of Defense specifications for security and electronics disposal and provide a Certificate of Destruction.

Because lead, mercury and cadmium are common toxins contained in many electronics, not just computers, Shevlin says, "All electronics gear should be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. It is not worth the risk on the environment to leave the definition of ‘electronics’ up to the general public."