The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted businesses of all sizes, but none more so than those with a physical office space. With employees now used to working remotely, companies are having to weigh the pros and cons of keeping that physical space open. The decision is becoming increasingly clear for many businesses – it’s time to close shop.
However, what happens to all the electronic equipment accumulated over the years? Computers, laptops, company phones, printers, and scanners must be disposed of properly.
That’s where ViaTeK Solutions comes in. We can help your business transition to a remote office by ethically and responsibly disposing of all your electronic equipment in one fell swoop.
The Rise of Remote Work
When the COVID pandemic forced businesses to shut their doors, remote work was the only option. Now that the world has mostly returned to normal, many employees do not want to return to the office. Many consider working from home to be more productive and allow for a better work/life balance.
A 2022 study by McKinsey found that 58% of employees can work from home at least one day a week. 35% can work remotely full-time. The same study also showed that, given the chance, the majority of people choose flexible work options.
Employers benefit from remote work as well. Businesses can save an average of $11,000 per worker by going remote.
If you’ve decided that remote work is right for your company, the next step is to handle the physical office closing. This means dealing with everything from ending your lease to electronic liquidation, the process of selling, recycling, or destroying electronic equipment that is no longer required for your physical office space.
Why Old IT Equipment Needs to be Recycled
Office furniture can be thrown into the dump. A broken chair has limited value, and it won’t do any harm in a landfill.
Old IT equipment, however, is different. Computers and other electronic devices need to be formally recycled or destroyed. There are a few crucial reasons for this.
It’s Toxic
Electronic waste is incredibly harmful to the environment. Computers, laptops, and phones contain a variety of toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium. If these devices end up in landfills, those toxins can seep into the ground and contaminate both soil and water.
It’s Valuable
While electronic waste might not seem valuable, it contains various rare metals like gold, silver, and platinum.
When e-waste is recycled properly, those metals can be extracted and reused. This helps to conserve resources and reduces the need for mining.
Data Destruction
When electronic devices are recycled, all the data stored on them must be destroyed. Old laptops or computers that are tossed in the garbage can be accessed by anyone. If the devices contain sensitive information like credit card or social security numbers, your business could be at risk for a data breach.
Destroying the data protects the privacy of your employees and customers. It also prevents that data from falling into the wrong hands.
Recycling electronic waste is a security concern.
How Old IT Equipment is Prepared for Recycling
The first step in recycling items like computers is to back up all the data stored on the devices. Once that’s done, it’s time to wipe the hard drives clean.
There are a few different ways to do this, but the most important thing is to ensure it’s done thoroughly. A simple delete function will not suffice – data recovery software gets more sophisticated by the day and can easily access deleted files.
When the data has been destroyed, it’s necessary to remove sensitive components such as the hard drive, battery, RAM, and other removable parts. These components must be disposed of separately from the rest of the device because they contain valuable materials.
After all the data has been destroyed, and the sensitive components have been removed, the devices are ready to be recycled.
ViaTeK Can Help
The average company spends 30% of its IT budget on hardware. When you factor in the cost of maintaining that hardware, that number jumps to 70%.
For many businesses, going remote is a way to cut costs. However, you must find a way to dispose of your old, potentially valuable IT equipment.
ViaTeK offers data destruction, electronic recycling, and end-of-life asset management. Worries over potential financial losses can make companies reluctant to give up old IT hardware. However, our end-to-end solution for electronic recycling is designed to give you the best possible return on your investment.
We work with some of the largest companies in the world, and we’re proud to have a perfect compliance record. ViaTeK is here to help transition your office to remote work smart and environmentally conscious.
Contact ViaTeK Today
If you’re interested in learning more about our electronic recycling services, we invite you to contact us today. Our team will collaborate with you to develop a plan that meets the specific needs of your business.
Thank you for considering ViaTeK as your corporate electronic recycling partner. We look forward to working with you.
