You may have heard the term “ITAD” being used and have a vague sense that it has something to do with electronics. Despite not being well known outside of the tech and recycling industries, ITAD is a critical aspect of using electronics in a business. So, what is ITAD?
IT asset disposition or ITAD is the practice of reusing, recycling, repurposing, repairing, or disposing of unwanted IT equipment in a safe and environmentally responsible way. While often overlooked, the need for proper ITAD is significant and has a major impact on worldwide ecosystems.
Not only is ITAD an increasingly important concern in an environmentally-conscious world, but it is vital from a data security standpoint as well. Discarded hard drives containing sensitive information are significant vulnerabilities if not properly cleared of data when they’re disposed of.
Understanding Proper IT Asset Disposal
Skilled ITAD providers address the need for clearing data vulnerabilities by either degaussing or completely physically destroying the hardware. Degaussing is a process that electronically removes the magnetic field of a disk or hard drive using a special device, rendering it unusable. These are both secure ways of ensuring total data deletion.
The World Economic Forum estimates that nearly 50 million metric tons of e-waste are produced yearly. Most of this scrap ends up getting burned or shipped to landfills. In addition to being harmful to the environment, this method of e-waste elimination discards countless resources that could be recovered from the e-scrap.
Newer strategies are being implemented to change the number of electronic resources being wasted. One of the most prevalent methods is the rise of using ecolabels to denote recyclability. These labels are marks placed on the product packaging to help consumers recognize that the product is recyclable or made from recycled materials. These labels have become mandatory in many places, making the ITAD process more straightforward and eliminating some waste.
Working with an Expert ITAD Partner
While ITAD is a growing market, choosing the right partner is essential to a clean, efficient disposition strategy. The right partner can not only ensure that your unused IT assets are disposed of in safe, legal ways, but they can also make the most of the parts you give them, optimizing prices for your company.
The IT asset disposition market is a secondary market for businesses that remarket the discarded IT hardware they purchase. Different ITAD companies sometimes coordinate with each other to sell equipment, and IT organizations and purchasers may also work with ITAD companies directly. According to a report, the ITAD market will be worth $23.5 billion within the next five years.
Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic placed extra strain on the IT asset and e-scrap markets due to supply chain issues, making ITAD concerns even more pressing than they have been in the past.
First America
First America Metal Corporation (FAMCe) is a national leader in ITAD, electronic recycling, and data destruction services with over 30 years of experience. We offer a wide range of IT disposal solutions designed to meet our clients’ unique needs in a safe and eco-friendly manner.
We specialize in secure, innovative electronics recycling services for businesses that need to safely dispose of electronic scrap, high-temperature alloys, and non-ferrous scrap. Our level of expertise, unparalleled customer service, and aggressive pricing make First America the leading option for almost any recycling need.
Need your company’s electronics safely and sustainably decommissioned? Learn more and get in touch with us at firstamerica.com.
