Disposing of hazardous electronic waste is something that should be taken very seriously. Getting rid of this type of dangerous material is not as simple as scraping your plate into the trash after dinner. It is a process that needs to be done correctly and if it’s not, there are severe consequences. In fact, mega-media company, AT&T, recently agreed to pay a $23.8 million fine in California for unlawfully disposing of hazardous waste over a nine-year period. So how can your company avoid penalties when it comes to hazardous waste disposal? There are a number of factors to consider.
Hiring a trustworthy professional is the best way to ensure your hazardous electronic waste is properly discarded. For example, we employ a national EPA-compliant, non-landfill recycling program since it is the most effective and environmentally safe way to dispose of obsolete or end-of-life computers. However, computers are not the only consideration. Other electronic equipment such as batteries, aerosol cans, and certain gels, liquids and other items should not be sent to local landfills that are not permitted to handle that type of waste. Make sure whatever data destruction company you use has processes in place to properly handle these items according to the law.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask a data destruction company about its environmental compliance measures. If the company is in line with the law, it will multiple layers of protection against electronic waste getting into its regular trash. This includes safe guards such as assessments of staging bins before the contents are deposited into dumpsters, unannounced inspections and independent audits, among other precautions. You can learn additional data disposal facts and tips in our blog post, Do You Know Where Your E-Waste Goes?
If you need additional advice on environmental compliant electronic waste disposal, contact us for a free consultation.
