Category

Computer Recycling

Why Should Computer Recycling Be Important To Your Business?

By | Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling | No Comments

Technology changes at a rapid pace and businesses often need to refresh their IT equipment to realise the benefits new innovations can offer and stay ahead of the competition. On the other hand, you may want to downsize your operations to free-up physical office space or cash. However, discarded computer equipment needs to be disposed of in a safe and controlled manner because it can contain toxic substances and is effectively classed as hazardous waste.

In addition, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive was introduced in 2007. The legislation aims to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic equipment being produced and to encourage everyone to reuse, recycle and recover it.

In a nutshell, this means you are legally obliged to dispose or recycle your IT equipment safely and securely. This is where Buy IT Back can help. With 25 years’ experience we provide a total solution from secure data deletion, testing, storage, collection through to disposal, which enables our clients to efficiently dispose of their redundant IT hardware, and what’s more we’ll give you some money in return.

Cashback for your business

We will evaluate your old equipment and provide you with a competitive quote for its disposal and recycling. Our cashback offer gives you a financial boost to aid your business and recoup some of your monetary outlay for future IT refresh projects or other areas of investment in your business.

Hassle free disposal

With our wealth of expertise we provide an efficient disposal and recycling solution which saves you a lot of time, effort and financial cost to effectively comply with the WEEE legislation.

Helping the environment

By recycling your old and unwanted IT hardware, you’re doing your bit to help the environment by preventing potentially hazardous waste from entering landfill and causing soil and water contamination.

Promoting sustainability

Rather than sending your electronic waste straight to landfill, why not make arrangements for it to be collected, reused or recycled? By using Buy IT Back’s recycling services, certain parts of the kit can be repurposed to make new equipment, while reducing the impact on our Earth’s resources.

Contact us now for further information and receive a free quote for the complete buy back of your electronic waste and unwanted IT equipment.

Why Computer Recycling Will Benefit your Business

By | Computer Recycling | No Comments

Computer recycling should be part of every business’ policy when it’s time to upgrade to new equipment or old hardware becomes unusable. There are many reasons why you should ensure all old computer equipment is recycled:

  1. Computers are made with hazardous materials which can be damaging to human and environmental health if simply dumped
  2. You are legally obliged to dispose of your IT equipment appropriately
  3. A computer which is simply ‘dumped’ may sit in a landfill for over 100 years, with its hazardous substances becoming part of the environment
  4. Computer materials are easy to recover and recycle for new purposes

With these reasons and many more, recycling computers should be the first option your business goes for when looking for a way to get rid of old equipment.

However, there are further benefits too, including:

Peace of Mind

You don’t have to worry about complying with WEEE regulations and legislation if you partner with a reputable computer recycling company. They take the burden of responsibility and will ensure your old equipment is handled responsibly and recycled in a manner which is fully WEEE compliant.

Improved Business Reputation

If you want to publicly announce that you are an eco-friendly company, then you may take the opportunity to share your decision to recycle old equipment. It may help improve your reputation and may also help build customer loyalty, as you are a company who can be seen to acting responsibly at all times.

Meet Legal Obligations

It has already been mentioned but as a business you are obliged to deal with your waste electronic equipment in a compliant and environmentally conscious way. You have to abide by the legislation laid out and many businesses choose to do this by not recycling at all and keeping their old equipment, but that can result in a waste of space and storage costs.

Financial Gain

Your old computer equipment may not have much value to your business any more but it doesn’t mean it is worthless. When you partner with Buy IT Back you will receive a price for your equipment. Your equipment will be fully assessed and you will receive a quote which you can accept or reject. If you choose to have your equipment recycled with us, then it will be picked up and you will receive the quoted fee. Your equipment will be responsibly recycled and you have the cash injection to use how you wish in your business.

Computer recycling is a highly effective way of ensuring you’re complying with all legislation and with Buy IT Back you benefit from a cash return too.

What should you do with Old Server Hardware?

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When it is time to upgrade your servers or you have made the decision to move onto the cloud to save space and boost efficiency, what do you do with your old server equipment? There are a number of options available to you and the one you choose may depend upon the situation you are in.

Refurbishing Servers

You may choose to make do and mend with your old server hardware. This is probably only possible if you have a strong technical in-house team or you could choose to have your servers professional refurbished. The issues with refurbishment come with how much can be done and whether you are just better off investing in new equipment or making that switch to cloud-based options. Refurbishing your old servers in-house or with the help of an expert will extend their life but how viable is it for your business? Just how old is that server and how much more time will the refurbishment give you? As a rule, refurbishment and upgrade is not a cost effective option. You may find it needs regular repairs and further upgrades and you end up spending much more than the server is worth.

Re-purposing Servers

In some businesses it is possible to repurpose older servers as resource centres within a virtual server pool. They can be used without consuming too much power and they can take on a part of the workload without being relied upon for the whole server capacity. Repurposed servers are also often used as part of a network for emergency and disaster recovery situations. In this instance the old server remains active as a virtual server host if a recovery is required and it holds only the most essential applications. It means the server can run at a lower level than main servers and still perform a purpose. It’s a great option if you have the technical know-how but it can be a complex technical process and it really does depend on the state of your old server equipment.

Recycling Servers

The final option is to recycle your old server equipment. This means you’re accepting it is time to dispose of the equipment and recycling ensures you are doing so following WEEE regulations. Working with a reliable recycling partner like Buy IT Back ensures your server is handled effectively and it will be recycled in a way which complies with WEEE regulations. The recycling process will ensure that your server is either sold on and reused in another business or it is broken down and its parts are ethically recycled and reused.

When you choose to recycle your old servers when Buy IT Back you will be paid for your old equipment and we will collect it and ensure it is recycled responsibly.

Environmental Benefits of Recycling your Old Computer Hardware

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You have legal requirements when it comes to recycling your old computer hardware but you can also feel confident that you’re not damaging the environment if you choose a professional recycling company. There are many risks that your computer hardware cause to the environment if they are just dumped so it is important to dispose of all your old equipment ethically.

Damage caused by Improperly Disposed of E-Waste

The following things can be the result of not disposing of your old computer hardware in a safe and responsible way:

  • Pollution: waste technology can pollute both the air and the water
  • Hazardous Materials: waste hardware contains many hazardous chemicals which is left out to cause damage and contamination if not disposed of properly
  • Damaged eco-system: e-waste left on landfills or tips can contaminate the surrounding area and prove poisonous to local wildlife and plants, therefore disrupting the natural life cycle of many different species

Benefits of Recycling your Old Computer Hardware

Below are some of the ways the environment will benefit from your choice to recycle old computer equipment rather than dispose of it in another way:

Conserve Natural Resources

Choosing to recycle means the materials within your old computer hardware are being reused and therefore there is less need to dedicate new resources to creating new equipment. Many of the components within your old hardware can be reused in the production of other equipment.

Protect the Environment

By choosing to recycle your computer and other hardware you are ensuring that none of your old equipment is at risk of contaminating the environment, causing damage to the land or polluting water supplies. Your equipment will be handled ethically and disposed of in a way which ensures none of its components end up landfills.

Protect Public Health

As mentioned there are many hazardous materials within electronic equipment, including your old computers, servers and other office hardware. Reusing and recycling this hardware ensures these hazardous materials, such as lead and mercury, are not released into the environment and don’t pose a threat to other people. This is also a reason not to hoard or keep hold of old, unused hardware as it is can disintegrate over time and become risky, especially when there are batteries and circuit boards within.

Choosing to recycling your computer equipment ensures you are keeping the environment in mind and recycling with Buy IT Back also ensures that you get paid for your equipment and you can have peace of mind that your equipment has been ethically handled.

Selling your old iPad

By | Apple Equipment, Computer Recycling | No Comments

New iPads are released relatively regularly and if you are the type of person who likes to have the latest tech and for both work and leisure purposes likes to be up to date that it’s understandable you may want to get rid of your old iPad before investing into a new one. Selling your old iPad can be extremely straightforward and if you choose to sell to a reputable company who will ethically resell or recycle your product you can have peace of mind as well as some extra cash to spend on the latest Apple release.

Recycling your old electronics allows you to generate more cash for newer models or to spend however you wish. When it comes to iPads older models are still very popular and in most instances they can be sold on but even if an old iPad isn’t working as well as it should it can be recycled for parts and every element can be ethically and responsibly recycled, with a fee paid to you for the privilege.

Electronics like iPads cannot be simply thrown away, even when broken and they need to be disposed of responsibly and properly recycled. From a business perspective if your old iPad is used for work and if perhaps you have more than one iPad to recycle you are bound by the WEEE legislation in the EU to recycle your old equipment responsibly and the best way to do this is to work with a recognised electronics recycling company such as Buy IT Back

Recycle your old iPad with Buy IT Back

Buy IT Back is a specialist in IT and electronics recycling and this includes all Apple products. If you’re looking to sell your old iPad or any other Apple product, then we can help and we can provide a transparent quote which will tell you exactly how much you can expect back in cash for your old equipment. If you have multiple iPads or Apple products we can put together a quote for your full inventory and ensure you get a competitive price for your Apple equipment.

Once we have provided our quote we can come and collect your old iPad and any other equipment and provide you with the cash agreed for the sale. We specialise in working with all kinds of reputable brands including Apple and we deliver a service which ensures you get a fair return for your old equipment and the cash is yours to spend as you wish on new technology or in any other way you choose.

Selling your old iPad could not be simpler than with Buy IT Back and we guarantee responsible recycling and reselling so you can have complete peace of mind.

 

Selling your Apple MacBook

By | Apple Equipment | No Comments

Whether you’ve made the decision to upgrade to the next model or are simply moving on from your Apple MacBook, it makes sense to sell it responsibly and make some cash back on your sale, rather than just leaving it to the landfill. It is also important to remember that since 2007, waste electronic and electrical equipment is not allowed to be simply taken to the dump, instead you need to dispose of your old Apple MacBook responsibly, through resale or recycling.

Choosing to sell Apple MacBooks that you may no longer need or are no longer in use means you can generate a little extra cash as well as have the space you need for your new computer.

Apple are renowned for their speedy and regular product upgrades so it’s completely understandable you want the latest piece of kit as soon as its launched and when selling a MacBook you can enjoy the benefits of the cash return.

Recycling Apple MacBooks

Recycling your Apple MacBook could mean that it is resold as is (with your data erased of course) and put to use by a new user or it could, depending on its condition and age, be broken down into smaller parts and recycled for a number of different purposes. Using a reputable recycling and reselling company ensures you are in line with government and EU guidelines and also gives you the peace of mind to know you’re getting the right price for your product – choosing to sell via an auction website or classified adverts can result all kinds of issues which simply don’t come up when you choose to work with a company who specialise in buying and selling Apple MacBooks and related products.

Getting cash for used Apple MacBook and other Apple accessories is a great way of ensuring you’re ready for your next product and you have got the full value from your old MacBook before moving on.

We Buy Old Apple MacBooks

At Buy IT Back we are interested in your old Apple MacBook and other Apple equipment. As a recognised and reputable reseller and recycler of used IT equipment you can be sure you are dealing with a company who practice corporate social responsibility and are providing a service completely in line with legal requirements. We buy used Apple MacBooks and then resell them where possible, or recycle them using other means.

If you would like to discuss selling Apple MacBook products and other Apple equipment with us, please fill in our quote form.

World Study suggests Illegal Dumping of WEEE is Rife

By | Computer Disposal, Computer Recycling, News | No Comments

A report published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reveals some stark statistics about the state of WEEE recycling around the world. Their figures suggest that as much as 90% of the world’s waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) could be being illegally traded or dumped annually. This comes as a shock as the latest figures from the UK at the very least paint a different picture.

The new report, Waste Crime – Waste Risks: Gaps in Meeting the Global Waste Challenge, suggests around 369 million tonnes of WEEE are handled illegally each year, with the value of this waste being as much as £12bn.

The estimate they have put together is based upon their ‘latest research findings, and involvement from practitioners such as the formal waste sector, inspectors, law enforcement officers and prosecutors’ which together suggest that only 10-40% of all e-waste is recycled in a legal and proper manner.

EU Exports to Africa and Asia

The reason behind much of the problem is believed to be down to exportation WEEE. UNEP believe that the problem is mainly caused by companies within the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) illegally exporting their WEEE to non-OECD countries, mainly in Africa and Asia. In these countries the protection of workers and environmental protection laws are less stringent and the WEEE isn’t handled within regulations ensuring it is actually being recycled.

WEEE can very easily find itself way into illegal channels because of the many valuable materials used in the protection of many products means they are in demand for stripping and selling on and also, as the report suggests, it is a cheaper method of getting rid of WEEE, rather than sending the materials for treatment via the legally approved methods and routes.

UNEP calls for improved awreness of the impact of e-waste crime and how damaging it can be to the planet and also the people in the states who are working with our waste. They are encouraging non-governmental organisations to take a key role in exposing waste crime and ensure our waste is handled legally and correctly.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Legal IT Recycling

For businesses in the UK of all sizes, it is essential that their WEEE is handled legally to avoid any repercussions of breaking WEEE legislation. An easy and peace of mind inducing option for handling your WEEE is to partner up with an approved and effective IT recycling provider.

At Buy IT Back we are committed to socially responsible, best practice and legal methods of recycling your old IT equipment, ensuring it is handled with care and that you get a good price for your equipment too, a bit of a bonus. To avoid the dangers of malpractice and damaging your company reputation, we always recommend you find a reputable partner for disposing of your old, unused equipment, rather than allowing it to be dumped at a landfill or left in your premises costing you money.

Toxic Mine of E-Waste Piling Up according to UN Report

By | Computer Recycling, News | No Comments

A new report by the UN has found that there are 42 millions of tons of electronic and electrical equipment discarded by consumers every year and this includes many valuable and renewable materials including gold worth more than £7bn.

The report has been carried out by the United Nations University and has revealed that e-waste is becoming a serious issue around the globe, with projections suggesting it will reach 50 megatons by 2018. Even worse for us, Brits are amongst the biggest generators of this type of junk.

As well as that huge amount of gold resource being lost, the report found that over 1000 tons of silver and 16 megatons of reusable steel were going to waste with people simply throwing out their old electrical equipment. In terms of danger to the environment the report revealed that the waste may include an alarming 4,400 tons of ozone-depleting chemicals and 2.2 megatons of lead glass which can pollute both water supplies and soil.

The reasons behind this huge pile of discarded tech is closely linked to the speed at which we are innovating and which new technology is needed to keep up with the pace of the world. Rising sales of technology are great but the new products being produced seem to have a shorter and shorter life cycle, which contributes to this huge and dangerous volume of e-waste which is threatening to pollute the world over.

The majority of e-waste was found to be either domestic appliances or office equipment and of course, as a responsible business owner we believe our clients know better than to simply dump their office equipment when they could be utilising our high quality recycling service that not only ensures your old equipment doesn’t end up in a landfill or as part of this dangerous e-waste mine, and instead is resold, recycled or repurposed in some way, as well as giving you a cash fee for the hardware.

Britain doesn’t rank well when it comes to recycling e-waste, it actually comes in 5th in the weight of material discarded per person, with each Brit said to generate 23.5kg of e-waste a year. The UK also ranked highly in terms of total amount of e-waste and the figure of 1.5 megatons produced a year is a real shock as it is almost in line with India, a country which has 20 times the population.

There is no reason for a modern business to discard of their e-waste irresponsibly. Partnering with an effective and socially responsible computer recycling company ensures your waste is dealt with in a professional and legal manner, avoiding any risks for your company in terms of liability and also ensuring you are not part of this huge e-waste problem. We are keen to see more recycling and less dumping so the predictions of the UN don’t become a reality and we are readily available to provide quality, efficient and quick IT recycling services, with cash back on your goods.

Recycling School IT Equipment

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Although the school holidays may seem a long way away if you work in education, especially in schools, planning budgets and organising equipment for the new school year can never begin too early. Your school equipment needs to be as advanced and as up to date as possible to ensure you are providing your pupils with the level of teaching and standards they require to achieve the results they’re looking for. This can be hard when you consider budgets and other capital investments that a school has to consider but if you find a dedicated recycling partner for your school’s old IT equipment then you’re at least putting yourself in the position of being able to make some cash back on your old equipment.

Recycling your out-dated IT equipment means you are ensuring the space is available for the latest technology for your pupils and their education. Choosing Buy IT Back as your computer recycling partner ensures you have someone on hand who knows exactly how to dispose of your old equipment in a legislation compliant, cost efficient and fully audited fashion. Regular updates and changes to software should give you a clear vision of how in date your hardware is and once security updates are no longer available, whether for your computers or server equipment, you know it’s time to make that change.

Instilling an attitude of sustainability in your school is something that will also inspire and interest your pupils. Whilst the focus may be getting some cash back for your old IT equipment to put back into the school, you can also use it as an opportunity to show your pupils how useful and valuable recycling can be. It could be the first step in a school-wide recycling programme which ensures you instil an attitude of environmental friendliness and sustainability in future generations.

When the school terms finally end for the summer then it’s time to start that comprehensive IT audit, once you know what is ready to be recycled it’s time to call us. We will offer a full evaluation of your equipment and offer a cash fee for its value. We ensure it is either fully recycled in a way which is in line with all regulations or sell it on so it can be used effectively elsewhere. With us as your partner you can be safe in the knowledge that your old equipment hasn’t ended up in a landfill and you will also have that extra capital to invest back into the school’s new IT system or in any area which you see fit.

Whether your computer suite upgrading or you need a professional server recycling service, Buy IT Back can provide your institution with the advice and service it needs.

Cracking Down on Commercial Use of Household Waste Recycling Centres

By | Computer Recycling, News | No Comments

In Hertfordshire there has been a new crackdown on the dumping of commercial waste in Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). The council and their partner contractors have put a restriction on van drivers using the centres in a bid to reduce trade waste being dumped on their household waste sites. This change came into play in January and the scheme works on a permitting basis which requires the drivers of more commercial vehicles, such as vans, pickups and vehicles with trailers, to sign up to a free pass for their waste disposal.

The permit will last 12 months and this allows them to visit any of the HWRCs in the authority area up to 12 times. Any more than this and then the permit will have to be returned to the site operator and then their use of the sites will be checked. There is real hope this will stop the misuse of the HWRCs by trade drivers and business people, who, by all rights should be paying for the disposal of their waste or utilising specialist companies who deal with commercial waste.

Commercial vs Household Waste

It is illegal to dispose of commercial waste, in any form, in household waste centres including household bins and recycling bins. Discovery of illegal dumping can result in company or individual prosecution and businesses are obliged by law to store, transport and dispose of their own business waste without causing any harm to the environment or human health.  These guidelines are laid out in the Environmental Protection Act (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991.

As a business owner it is important to appear socially responsible and to be aware of your requirements when it comes to managing your business waste, whether that’s the content of your waste paper bins or your old IT equipment.

With this crackdown in Hertfordshire we wouldn’t be surprised if other councils soon follow suit. Recycling in London differs greatly from local authority to local authority but the legal requirements remain the same and the system now in place in Hertfordshire is worth keeping an eye on to see if it’s a success.

When it comes to your businesses need not worry as Buy IT Back ensure at least this aspect of your recycling is handled with care and responsibility. Using Buy IT Back ensures you not only get some money back on your old equipment, you also get to be safe in the knowledge it has been disposed of responsibly and hasn’t been simply dumped at the side of your local HWRC.

Providing IT Hardware, Data Security, Recycling & Residual Value Solutions For Over 30 Years Since 1992