Many people do not think about the consequences of unwanted or outdated electronics in our seemingly “Disposable Society.” The problem is not simply a landfill issue, it is much more than that. Did you know that a typical office space can contain as much as 50 pounds of electronics equipment per worker? From cell phones to computers, personal electronics today not only contain contaminants, they also have something that is of great value to criminals – personal information. And surprisingly more than you may know… Identity thieves can easily take both personal and confidential information about your business, employees and customers. What is a business or resident to do?
First and foremost, remove all personal information from your computer before donating or recycling. Microsoft and Apple offer management tools that can be used to overwrite the data on your drive. In addition, the following software programs can also be used to overwrite information stored on the hard drive:
Active@KillDisk
DBAN “Darik’s Boot and Nuke”
Eraser
If you are not comfortable removing the information yourself, check to see if your local electronic store offers the service.
Next, make sure to take your electronics to a responsible recycler. For more information, please visit askhrgreen.org/electronics-recycling.
Daniel Baxter is business recycling and sustainability coordinator with the Public Works Solid Waste Division of the City of Newport News and can be reached at 269-2873 or by email at [email protected].