How to recycle your computer equipment?

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We are used to recycling our waste on a daily basis. Cardboard, plastic, metal, we pretty much know where each material should be thrown away. But when it comes to our old computer tools, the question becomes more complicated. Where should we take our computer equipment to be recycled? Can we really give it a new life?

These issues are of paramount importance as the consumption of digital objects increases every year. On average, in France, each person owns 8 pieces of computer equipment, ranging from a connected watch to a laptop, a cell phone and a Bluetooth speaker.

Each year worldwide, more than 60 million tons of electronic waste (WEEE) are produced. Also known as WEEE, this waste covers the categories of electrical and electronic equipment, which includes small household and digital equipment.

These numbers are not insignificant. That's why since January 1, 2018, sorting and recycling of computer equipment is mandatory for companies with more than 20 employees. For a company, recycling computer equipment does not have the same scope or the same issues as for individuals.

So how do you go about it? Who takes back your old IT equipment? rzilient explains it all in this article and gives you 4 alternatives to recycling.

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Who collects computer waste from companies?

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In recent years, the pollution linked to the digital sector has exploded. Between the extraction of raw materials which requires many resources (water, energy) or the power supply of all our devices and data centers, the carbon footprint of the digital industry is significant.

So what do we do with our old computer tools to prevent them from ending up in the landfill? Who takes back computers?

If you are a business, your recycling needs are somewhat different from individuals, but there are many ways to give your equipment a second life.

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1. Have your old equipment removed directly from your company

To do this, it's important to call on a recycling professional who will come directly to your site to remove your various WEEE. Depending on the professional you choose, there may be weight limits that must not be exceeded. At rzilient, we work in partnership with Save Market and Zack, who specialize in the collection and recycling of IT equipment.

Before the recycling professional comes to dispose of your old equipment, it is necessary to specify the actions that he must perform or not:

• destruction of data on hard drives;
• record of serial numbers.

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2. Bring your WEEE to a collection point

When the IT fleet to be recycled and renewed is substantial, this option can be difficult to implement. Nevertheless, collection points are numerous in France.

On the other hand, you have to be careful with the weight of the WEEE you wish to donate. If you have more or less than 2 tons of old computer equipment to process, the proposed collection points will not be the same.

Both options have their advantages and disadvantages, but it is important to remember that the treatment of electronic waste is mandatory. Penalties can be heavy in case of failure to comply.

There are real ecological issues behind the treatment and recycling of this waste when you are a company because the volumes are not the same as for individuals. They are much more consequent, as well as the frequency with which it is necessary to take care of its equipment which becomes quickly obsolete for some.

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The 4 main steps to recycle your computer equipment

But what happens once your computer equipment is collected?

It should be noted that all electronic components are, in theory, recyclable:

• processor;
• hard drives ;
• computer screens ;
• printers ;
• laptops ;
• motherboards ;
• keyboards ...

Here are the 4 major steps that your old digital equipment will follow when you recycle it.

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1. Sorting upstream

Before calling a professional to come and collect your computer equipment, it is important that you make a first sorting within your company. Remove the polluting things that can not be recycled with the WEEE: batteries, cartridges, unwanted cables ...

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2. The collection

The 2nd step is the collection! This is when the recycling professional comes to take your computer fleet. Once recovered, he looks at which devices are still functional and will simply need to be refurbished to go back into the circuit, and the others. These are the ones that will end up in a sorting center in a specialized channel. The components will be dismantled, tested, and some will be reused in new devices.

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3. The treatment

This is where the work of the recycling channels really begins. The first step is to dismantle the equipment to see which parts are reusable and which materials are recyclable.

Metals and components that are still in good condition are sorted according to precise classification standards and sent to recycling companies. This is the case for plastic found in cables or copper. They are resold to specialized channels, and for some, remelted.

What remains is depolluted, i.e.the dangerous components are removed. These are the ones that are problematic when recycling is not done properly. When they end up in landfills buried in the ground, these components pollute the surrounding soil and water, causing serious problems for biodiversity and health.

When processing e-waste, there are 3 options for recycling the different materials:

• recycling for the creation of new materials and reintroduction into the circuit;
• energy or material recovery;
• disposal of materials inaccordance with regulations.

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4. Reintroduction into the circuit

The primary objective of recycling is to reuse the various materials extracted as secondary raw materials. This makes it possible to market equipment made from already existing resources.

But some things cannot be recycled or reintroduced, such as batteries or hard drives. These are shredded to destroy confidential data and what is left (about 17%) is processed through incineration or landfills.

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Limits to the recycling of computer products

We realize that not everything is recyclable. This is all the more obvious when it comes to computer equipment because the components are sometimes so small, or glued, that it is impossible to extract them individually to make secondary raw materials.

Between poor sorting at the top of the chain, and constraints that make some components difficult to recycle, it is estimated that only 65% of WEEE is actually recycled.

Here are some numbers:

• 17% of WEEE worldwide is collected for recycling. And what is not recycled is incinerated, landfilled or goes through illegal channels(Global E-waste Monitor 2020)

• Properly collected e-waste can enter the recycling stream. But of this collection, only a small portion of the material can be separated and recycled. It is estimated that less than 20% of a smartphone is recyclable.(Economy and society in the digital age)
• many materials are decycling, that is to say that they lose quality with each cycle, and after being "cycled" a few times, they become non recyclable.

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4 alternatives more efficient than recycling

Currently, we are becoming more and more aware that recycling is no longer THE ultimate solution to act against climate change. There are many alternatives to reduce one's carbon footprint, especially in the digital world.

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1. Reconditioned computer equipment

If reconditioned equipment is becoming more and more popular, especially in companies, it is because there are many advantages to choosing it. You areguaranteed a functional computer device with a much smaller environmental footprint. It is the most efficient option if you are looking to reduce your footprint.

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2. Renting your computer equipment

Another solution offered by rzilient that we don't always think about is leasing our IT fleet. This option is perfect when you don't want to deal with the end-of-life of your devices, and need to be accompanied in your IT support.

Whether it's for 6 months, 1 year or 2 years, you have the possibility to change your computer equipment during the contract and even to buy it at the end if you don't imagine to part with it.

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3. Extend the life of your tools

Instead of throwing away a computer device as soon as it is a little slower than before, it is essential to see if it is repairable. Because extending the life of your equipment is an effective way to reduce your carbon footprint.

Since January 1, 2021, measures have been taken to encourage repair before throwing away. Today, when buying a new product, it is mandatory to mention its reparability index.

What exactly is the repairability index? It is simply a score out of 10 that shows how easy the tool is to repair, or not. It is based on :

• product demountability;
• the availability of use and maintenance advice;
• availability and price of parts.

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4. Be part of a circular economy approach

In order for the waste of some to serve others, the circular economy is the most interesting solution to adopt. A true alternative model, this scheme allows to reduce the impact on the environment at all levels since it is a system of exchange between different partners.

This is the model on which rzilient and its partners base their efforts to create a committed, circular digital industry. Thanks to these collaborations, the challenge is to eliminate the waste emitted by this sector over the long term.

E-waste and old IT equipment raise many issues in relation to climate change. With the ever-increasing use of IT tools, it is important to realize that recycling is not always the best way to reduce our digital carbon footprint.

Daily actions can also be done with digital sobriety or corporate digital responsibility.

Do you want to reduce your company's environmental footprint and adopt a more responsible iT policy? Let's discuss your project together.

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