3 Reasons to Refurbish and Reuse Retired IT Devices

Published: 10/14/2021

An estimated 65 million metric tons of e-waste will be generated by 2025. The higher consumption rate of electronic equipment and shorter device life cycles are contributing to that growth. However, according to The Global E-Waste Monitor, only 17 percent of global e-waste today is appropriately documented, collected and recycled.

The remaining 83 percent is not documented or tracked through its final destination and is more than likely discarded in waste bins and subsequently landfilled or incinerated. Other disposal methods for e-waste include being exported to middle- and low-income countries or mixed into different waste streams and recycled under inferior conditions.

Instead of shipping wholesale and recycling overseas, businesses should refurbish and reuse retired IT devices.

1. Fulfill Corporate Social Responsibility Goals

There are millions of unused and retired IT devices “collecting dust” in U.S. businesses and homes. At the same time, companies need to fulfill corporate social responsibility goals through programs that benefit the wider community.

Statistics show that customers and executives have strong corporate social responsibility beliefs. For example, almost 90 percent of executives believe a strong sense of collective purpose within their organization drives employee satisfaction. At the same time, 77 percent of consumers are motivated to purchase from companies committed to making the world a better place.

Businesses can fulfill these goals and make a social impact by turning retired, returned and idle IT devices into recertified, affordable technology solutions for low-income students and families. Unfortunately, the digital divide and homework gap endure, even though most students in the United States have returned to in-person learning. More than 7 million children do not have computers at home. This is especially prevalent for students of color, who are caught in the homework gap.

In addition to impeding overall academic success, the homework gap affects a student’s ability to complete homework. The digital divide impacts entire families as well. Recent research found that the digital divide persists, even as Americans with lower incomes make gains in technology adoption.

PlanITROI started the Digital Dreams Project to support its mission to bridge the digital divide with affordable technology. Through its non-profit collaborations, including Take On Race, PlanITROI builds mission-driven partnerships. As a result, these organizations are creating a more digitally inclusive world by providing free and low-cost devices to communities of color.

Directly trading in computers, making a financial contribution, or initiating collections can make a difference.

PlanITROI offers a turn-key program with several participation levels, including virtual or in-person drives. This process maximizes the value of underused or end-of-life IT equipment. In addition, participating in the Digital Dreams Project is an easy entry point into tackling digital inequity and fulfilling corporate social responsibility goals.

2. Satisfy the “E” in Environmental, Social, and Governance Goals

Environmental governance supports sustainability. This piece is critical to satisfying environmental, social, and governance goals, which remain high on the priority list for businesses. By leveraging the circular economy for retired IT devices, companies can satisfy environmental goals and reduce e-waste. This concept extends the lifecycle of a product and keeps waste to a minimum.

An increasing number of manufacturers are making electronic devices that are more easily repaired to extend their lifecycle. The Repair Association advocates nationally for a competitive repair market and improvements to the quality and longevity of products. The mission is to drive repair-friendly legislation, regulations and standards for all products and all industries. Too often, usable products and device components are shredded or tossed away instead of being salvaged, fixed and reused.

End-of-life IT devices that are beyond the point of refurbishment need to be recycled responsibly. An ITAD provider that holds an accredited certification through the EPA ensures the highest level of environmental practices. Additionally, accurate tracking and reporting provide transparency and assists in understanding every part of the recycling process and its impact.

3. Amplify IT Asset Recovery

IT asset recovery starts with an evaluation process to find value and potential for reuse from retired IT assets. Reuse maximizes return on investment and provides options to determine how these assets can be best used.

There are numerous opportunities for an ITAD program to be a profit center. Financial and disposition options can include:

• Asset Recovery (Revenue share or buy out)
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Trade-in/up Programs
• Employee Purchase
• Charitable Donations
• Lease Returns Management

Outside the initial purchase, businesses can recover the highest possible value of an IT asset during multiple phases of its lifecycle. For example, if a device is not in working condition, repair or refurbishment could increase the potential value by turning the expense of ITAD into a profit. The highest recovery comes from refurbishing and reselling these devices directly to the user through big-box retailers.

Data Security is closely linked to profit. As such, eliminate data security risks and costly penalties, especially with end-of-life electronic devices. These assets contain sensitive data and are particularly vulnerable to a data breach, especially if data isn’t adequately sanitized.

A data breach can cost millions of dollars if data destruction isn’t expertly managed. For example, the data breach Morgan Stanley recently experienced was due to data security concerns stemming from outsourced ITAD jobs. It resulted in a handful of class action lawsuits and a $60 million fine from the federal government.

Safeguard sensitive data by working with an expert data destruction partner that follows all National Institute of Standards and Technology and Department of Defense guidelines. Also, an ITAD provider that holds a membership to the National Association for Information Destruction. NAID is the standard-setting body advocating for best practices in secure data destruction and has been the watchdog association for secure data destruction operators worldwide for decades. Above all, data destruction is best handled by a highly specialized ITAD provider, with an unblemished history of destroying data without an incident of personal information exposure.

Next Steps

Instead of recycling retired IT devices, consider refurbishing and reusing them. Along with helping the environment and bottom line, you can positively impact students and families in need.

PlanITROI helps clients recover the highest possible value for their IT assets by turning the expense of ITAD into a profit. Plus, achieve corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and governance goals. Since 2001, PlanITROI has recovered $1.2 billion for its clients and avoided 35 million pounds of e-waste. PlanITROI has never had an incident of a client’s confidential information being exposed for the past 20 years. That’s after processing more than 60 million media devices and destroying massive amounts of data stored on them.

Do you want to learn more about how refurbishing and reusing retired IT devices can benefit your ITAD program and bridge the digital divide? Contact us today to start the process.