It really wasn’t all that long ago that even a pretty well-off business would have been lucky to afford so much as a single computer to help keep things running. IT equipment in general used to be so expensive that there really was no such thing as waste – the resale market was almost as lucrative as the first-run-sale side of things! Of course, to say things have changed as of the present day would be an understatement – these days it can be quite literally impossible to give away anything that isn’t both high-quality and pretty much brand new. As such, when the time comes to get rid of a whole office-worth of IT equipment, it’s common for business owners to be left wondering where on Earth to turn.
According to the experts at www.expiredit.com however, the answer is relatively simple. It’s not like you can sell the stuff on, keeping it on-site makes no sense and to just throw it all in the trash would be a hideous waste – all of which leaves one responsible option remaining…recycling. However, with a million and one bits of kit waiting to be recycled and money to be made by those collecting and processing it, it’s hardly surprising that dozens of new IT recycling companies are popping up by the day. And of course, to say that all are not of the same calibre would be something of an understatement.
So, in order to make sure you do the right thing not only for the sake of your business but in an eco-sense as well, how can you be sure that the IT recycler you’re choosing really is the best brand for the job?
1 – No Secrets
Well, first of all there’s a big difference between a brand that tells you exactly what they do, how they do it and why it matters, and a separate company that just says ‘come to us’ and leaves it at that. The simple fact of the matter is that those with both a passion for recycling and pride in what they do will make no secret of the ins and outs of their service package – nor will they keep quiet about what happens to your gear once you hand it over. If they leave you with more questions than answers, you might be better off elsewhere.
2 – Responsible Handling of Data
Never forget that each and every item of data that’s left on any piece of IT hardware could be used for illicit purposes if it falls into the wrong hands. As such, it’s totally unacceptable for any IT recycling business to put either you or your data at risk by allowing it to be accessed by anyone else. This is why the very best recycling companies in operation today promise to not only wipe all hard drives and storage devices, but to do so to the highest military-grade level possible. If you want peace of mind, it’s the only standard to demand.
3 – Fair Pricing
There will always be special circumstances and exceptions, but for the most part IT recycling services will of course attach a fee to what they do – how else would they stay in business? The simple fact of the matter is that if they’re to come out to you, enter your premises, do the manual handling, load it up, take it away and begin processing it, there’s a fair bit of manpower and hard work involved. However, at the same time this doesn’t mean there’s any excuse for charging over the odds. So before you make your decision, take a look at what other services are charging and see whether it’s a fair price by comparison – you might be surprised with the difference from one provider to the next!
4 – Hours of Operation
Ideally, you’ll no doubt want the recyclers to pay you a visit at a time and on a day when disruption will be kept to an absolute minimum. After all, nothing is more costly or detrimental to a business than downtime. So, when doing your search, be sure to choose a company that’s happy to work around your schedule, rather than expecting things to work the other way around.
5 – Firm Feedback
Last but not least, never overlook the importance of reputation – in this case the feedback and testimonials left by other clients and customers. If the reputation the recycling firm has built speaks for itself, chances are you’re onto a winner. If not, why take the risk?