Electronic waste is beginning to pile up faster than you could imagine. By 2030, global e-waste is projected to reach 74 million metric tons annually, according to the United Nations’ Global E-waste Monitor. For companies trying to hit environmental targets while keeping up with modern technology, proper disposal has become a core element of corporate sustainability strategy.
Companies are constantly updating their technology, typically replacing computers, servers and mobile devices every three to five years. That creates a constant stream of waste that needs to be disposed of. The problem is that advanced technology often includes valuable materials, hazardous substances and sensitive data that makes the process more complex than simply taking out the trash.
Why outdated hardware creates both risk and opportunity
A typical laptop can contain precious metals like gold, silver and palladium. Servers and other data center equipment can contain even more valuable components. Even with so much valuable material available, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that only 15-20% of e-waste gets recycled properly in the United States, with the rest ending up in landfills or shipped overseas.
Many electronics can also contain toxic materials. There is lead in circuit boards, mercury in LCD screens and cadmium in batteries. All of these elements can cause serious harm if they are not disposed of correctly. If materials like these were to ever be absorbed into soil, they can create long-term contamination issues.
This is not just an environmental issue but one that also directly impacts business. According to a 2023 survey by PwC, 76% of institutional investors said they would divest from companies with poor environmental practices. This means companies like Microsoft and Google are financially incentivized to dispose of their IT assets responsibly.
How proper equipment retirement fits into sustainability frameworks
Companies now have ESG goals, which stand for environmental, social and governance. Companies must track things like carbon emissions, waste diversion rates and resource recovery. These structured programs are typically labeled as ITAD or IT Asset Disposition.
If manufacturing a single laptop creates roughly 200kg of CO2, then it makes sense to refurbish and recycle them to avoid creating new ones and increasing the burden on the environment. According to the EPA, they estimate that recycling one million laptops can save energy that is equivalent to the electricity used by 3,500 homes every year.
Companies with strong ITAD programs report diversion rates above 95%. That means 95% of their material avoids landfills and is instead refurbished or recycled. Professional IT asset disposition services aid in the process by dismantling equipment, separating components and routing materials to the appropriate recycling centers.
The data security dimension companies cannot ignore
There is another non-physical aspect of recycling tech that you have probably already thought of; personal data. Hard drives and solid-state drives can still hold data on them even years after deletion. In fact, the 2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report found that 13% of breaches involved improper disposal of hardware.
There are already regulatory frameworks in place that address this directly. GDPR requires companies to ensure personal data cannot be recovered from disposed equipment. HIPAA mandates specific destruction methods for devices that stored health information.
Professional ITAD providers also use certified data destruction methods. The National Institute of Standards and Technology publishes guidelines (NIST SP 800-88) specifying wiping, degaussing or physical destruction depending on data sensitivity. By staying up to date on the latest tech news, you can remain educated on the latest processes and guidelines.
Many companies can struggle with logistics. Often equipment sits in storage for months because no one owns the disposal process. Successful programs will assign clear ownership, while some companies might even designate an IT asset manager to coordinate retirement schedules and vendor relationships. Third-party certification can help validate environmental claims. R2 (Responsible Recycling) and e-Stewards are industry standards that certify recyclers meet environmental and data security requirements.
Measuring impact and reporting results
Having quantifiable metrics makes ITAD programs extremely valuable for ESG reporting. Tracking things like the percentage diverted from landfills and estimated carbon impact avoided, allow companies to make accurate annual sustainability reports.
Proper equipment disposition can help your business in multiple ways. By reducing environmental impact, managing private data correctly and providing accurate metrics for ESG frameworks, you gain several advantages. Not only can you protect the planet but you can also keep customers and shareholders happy, allowing your company to continue to grow in a more environmentally conscious world.
With over 74 million metric tons of annual e-waste projected by 2030, there is a massive opportunity for businesses to capitalize on this. This level of waste presents both a massive problem and significant opportunity for companies that properly implement ITAD and strive to adhere to ESG frameworks.
