IT Recycling Q&A – How waste becomes valuable to the environment and ROI

IT Recycling Q&A

IT Recycling is an important theme for sustainable IT. In this Q&A, Evernex’s expert explains why organizations should focus on IT Recycling.

What is the status quo of electronic waste?

It is noticeable that electronic waste quantities are huge. And they’re growing. Worldwide we produce 55 million tonnes every year. That’s 1,050 times the weight of the Titanic.

In 2020, the United Nations E-Waste Monitor forecast a further rise to 74 million tonnes in 2030. Only 17 per cent of discarded electronic equipment is recycled so far. Everything else is dumped in landfill or incinerated.

Firstly, highly toxic substances get into the air or leach out and pollute groundwater. From the disposal perspective, this can have huge impacts on ecosystems and people.

Secondly, all old equipment needs to be replaced. We mine, refine, transport and install raw materials in intermediate products.  Global supply chains send them to OEMs, that manufacture new hardware generations. This process requires lots of energy and it releases CO2 and other contaminants into the environment.

What are the consequences for the environment?

Only less IT disposal, less mining of raw material and less production will help the environment. Currently, we ship lots of IT equipment to countries with lower environmental standards. Raw materials such as gold, other metals and raw materials go back into the production circuit in this manner.

How Evernex recycles hardware and what elements can be recovered?

Evernex recycles IT-hardware via a multi-level process. This recycling process is in accordance with the “Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment” (WEEE directive). This European directive aims to avoid electronic waste. This process consists of:

1. Check the IT equipment: Is it defective/no longer needed/replaced?
2. Prepare functional and high-quality components: quality control, cost-efficient refurbished hardware.
3. Prepare functional components as repair spare parts: financial benefits
4. Create raw materials out of other parts and substances: future production.
5. E-waste: the rest is properly disposed of as actual waste.

In this way, companies avoid improper disposal and contaminants getting into the environment. Evernex reuses 15% of components installed in discarded IT equipment and received as “IT waste”. This is more than 50,000 spare parts every year. The remaining 85 per cent contains valuable minerals, rare earths, gold and other metals, and raw materials. These go back into the production circuit. In this way, we dispose less, produce less and need mining of raw material.

Which role do refurbished systems play in the recycling economy?

Preparing used equipment to reuse as refurbished hardware is closely connected with recycling. We thoroughly examine servers, memory and network components, clean them and replace any defective parts. So, we ensure future users do not have to make any sacrifices in quality, function or performance. Used equipment and complete systems are up to 50 per cent cheaper than comparable new ware. Moreover they save the environment a complete product generation.

What about the security of the data stored on old equipment?

Storage systems host large quantities of sensitive data. Improper disposal or reuse could lead to get these data into the wrong hands.

Evernex works with certified service providers who provide GDPR-compliant data erasure processes and precise procedure documentation. Therefore our refurbished equipment never contains residual data.

What are the economic benefits for companies?

Firstly, companies profit from selling used hardware or the reusable raw materials. In business terms, this means an additional ROI from the original IT equipment investment. Secondly, companies also profit from the entire recycling economy. The IT-market provides cheap, refurbished spare parts and equipment in this manner. Thirdly, companies become independent of fragile supply chains. For example, the ongoing chip shortage primarily affects new equipment.

In addition to recycling, one aspect creating greater sustainability is using hardware for longer. How can the life cycle be extended?

IT components and hardware systems need to be used for longer to use fewer raw materials. Companies can achieve this if they do not longer use the EoSL (End of Service Life) as a reason to discard their hardware early.

As providers of third-party maintenance (TPM), we maintain equipment independently of manufacturer support. We also extend its life cycle to ten years and beyond.