It’s not called a ‘tech graveyard’ for nothing, and every office has one.
It’s that neglected corner where an old phone lies buried in a drawer, a tablet naps under a layer of dust on a shelf in the storage room or perhaps a box of old laptops from who-knows-when waits patiently for a decision nobody’s made.
When devices outlive their usefulness in daily business, it’s tempting to bag it up and throw it into the general waste. But just because your smartphone can’t be upgraded anymore, or that laptop feels sluggish next to sleek new models doesn’t mean their story is over.
In fact, that pile of ‘junk’ can clear space, cut down waste and give useable equipment a second life. Below are some helpful tips:
First things first: how much old tech does your business have?
Do a quick inventory of all your old tech, including old monitors and even that box of cables. It could even include still perfectly usable equipment that your business has outgrown.
But unlike paper and card recycling, it isn’t always obvious what to do with old tech – particularly when you know it may still contain data.
A good starting point is to identify what tech you no longer need and want to get rid of.
You’ve got the old tech, now what?
Want to know if an office’s old tech can be another person or business’ treasure? Here’s a quick quiz to find out:
Your business has replaced a four-year-old laptop because it needs newer software. What should happen next?
A) Put it in general waste
B) Leave it in a cupboard indefinitely
C) Have it assessed to see whether it can be reused
D) Give it to someone without checking its suitability
The answer is: C
A laptop that is no longer suitable for your business may still have useful life left. Rather than automatically throwing it away, it can be assessed to determine whether it is suitable for refurbishment and reuse.
However, simply handing an old device to someone else isn’t necessarily the right approach. Equipment should be handled securely and assessed to make sure it’s suitable for its next use.
What happens to old tech?
Old equipment doesn’t have to become a headache once it’s reached the end of its useful life. Fortunately, there are services available offering easier ways to dispose of old equipment. ReTech by DCW in partnership with Blackmore UK, for example, provides businesses with a secure and sustainable way to manage redundant IT equipment.
The service is available free of charge to DCW customers and is designed to give old technology a clear route once it leaves your business. The process is straightforward:
1. Collection
Redundant IT equipment is collected from your business as part of the waste management service.
2. Secure handling
Each item is barcoded, providing traceability from collection through to eventual reuse, donation or secure destruction. Data is securely sanitised.
3. Reuse where possible
Suitable devices are refurbished and repaired for reuse.
4. Responsible recycling
Where equipment cannot be reused, the item is destroyed and elements that are suitable for recycling are removed and recycled.
What if the equipment is broken?
Not every device will be suitable for a second life.
A laptop with a smashed screen or coffee-damaged keyboard, for example, may not be suitable for reuse.
Where equipment can’t be reused, viable components and materials can still be recovered and recycled responsibly. ReTech prioritises the reuse of viable devices and components, with ethical recycling for equipment that cannot be repaired or reused.
A simple way to think about your old tech
The next time you discover a pile of redundant IT equipment in your office, don’t immediately think ‘bin it’. Get into the habit of thinking could it be reused or recycled. It also pays to ensure that data on the equipment has been securely dealt with.
Having a clear process for redundant IT means your business can deal with old equipment securely, sustainably and responsibly.
If your business has redundant laptops, phones, tablets, monitors and other IT equipment building up, find out more about ReTech at DCW and how it can help give your technology a secure and responsible next step.
Find out more about ReTech: www.dcw.co.uk/retech
T: 01392 358032
