How Can I Be Sure My Old IT Equipment is Disposed of Securely and Properly?

With the rapidly improving and expanding technologyrefurbishers in the UK through a website called
of today, people tend to replace their personal'Waste Online'
computers on a regular basis in order to keep upBefore using an e-waste disposal service check to
with the latest advancements. It's extremelysee that the company complies with the WEEE
important to dispose of old IT equipment securelyregulations and file your written proof that your IT
and properly not only to protect your sensitiveequipment was indeed disposed of securely and
information, but to protect the precious environmentproperly. And, if you're donating to a charitable
as well.organisation, see that the appropriate security
In early 2007 the Waste Electrical and Electronicmeasures will be taken with your equipment to
Equipment (WEEE) regulations came into effect in anprevent unauthorised access, now a legal requirement
attempt to minimise the millions of tonnes ofthanks to the Data Protection Act of 1998.
electronic waste, or e-waste as it's often called, thatAlso, some computer manufacturers now offer
is disposed of each year in just the UK alone. Yourecycling programs at low or no cost and information
can read about those laws at the Environmentabout these services, if available, can be found on
Agency's website.their respective websites. Some computer makers
All computer equipment contains hazardous materialsoffer credits toward the purchase of new equipment
and keeping e-waste out of landfills should be high onwhile others provide the service free of charge.
the list of priorities of government officials andErasing the Hard Drive Before Getting Rid of Your
private citizens everywhere.Computer
Mercury, lead, cadmium and hexavalent chromium,Most of us have done banking or ordered something
not to mention glass and plastic, all of which have aonline using our bank accounts or credit cards and
negative impact on the environment, are just somemany of us keep track of our finances with files
of what's found lurking inside our computers,saved on our home computers. Be aware that
monitors, hard drives, circuit boards, printers,reformatting the computer's hard drive is not enough
scanners, fax machines, and telephones.to ensure that all of your data will really be removed
Many areas now have recyclers who will take old ITfrom the machine.
equipment as well as organisations who specialise inThere are software programs available designed
disposing of computers and other hardware in anspecifically for this purpose and there's always the
environmentally responsible way. Other places likealternative of physically destroying the computer's
not-for-profit organisations will dismantle thehard drive making it unreadable, which of course,
computers and salvage whatever parts possible orwon't be an option if you're donating the computer
perhaps make repairs and then resell the equipment.to an organisation for some purpose.
Before donating a computer, make it a point to call inHowever you ultimately decide to dispose of your
advance, especially if the equipment is obsolete or inuseless IT equipment it is imperative to be absolutely
disrepair, to see if there's a need first.certain that none of your information will wind up in
You can find a list of computer recyclers andthe hands of a criminal.