Companies Face Heavy Fines for Dumping Old Computers Many hundreds of businesses in the Midlands will now be breaking the law when they throw away their old computers. Under new regulations that came into force only a few weeks ago magistrates can fine businesses that dump unwanted IT equipment up to £5,000 and this could rise to an unlimited fine in the crown court. Government is cracking down on businesses – and individuals – who throw away their old equipment to landfill which is a growing environmental problem. Computers and other discarded IT equipment that illegally ends up in landfill sites generate harmful toxic gases and metals. |
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The warning comes from a Midlands company that specialises in the recycling and remarketing of redundant IT equipment. Following the introduction of tough new laws to combat the dumping of IT equipment Expo has launched a new collection service. Said Expo’s Steve Jones: “There are undoubtedly many companies that will be unaware of the new laws and they are the ones that could find themselves in court. Take full responsibility for the safe and legal recycling of their IT equipment.” Companies are also running another, even greater risk by not disposing of old computer systems properly – identity and data theft. Recent high profile stories involving large companies, including a leading High Street bank, and confidential customer information left on discarded computers has fuelled calls for tighter controls on their disposal. But even companies that believe they have erased sensitive data from old computers can be caught out. Criminals have developed methods that can retrieve data even from hard drives that have been apparently wiped clean. “Data destruction and traceability are very important issues for all kinds of organisations these days. We guarantee to destroy all data completely and effectively to standards set out by the MOD,” Steve Jones said. “The procedures we use enable us to track all items through our recycling and remarketing process. That means that companies have a full audit trail of their equipment, whether it is remarketing for financial return or for recycling.” In a toughly worded statement, Department of Trade and Industry Minister Malcolm Wicks said recently: “Electrical equipment is the fastest-growing category of rubbish across Europe and the UK alone is now generating about one million tonnes of the stuff every year.” Ministers say the introduction of the regulations, known as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), will ease the major problem of e-waste, minimising the impact of electrical and electronic devices on the environment during their lifetime and when they are thrown away. The Environment Agency, which is responsible for overseeing the measures, say the regulations will lead to less waste going to landfill and more materials being made available for recycling. The WEEE regulations apply to businesses and other non-household users of electrical and electronic equipment, local authorities, the waste management industry, exporters and re-processors. “But there are a lot of companies who are not aware of the new regulations and the obligations placed upon them”, said Steve Jones. All IT equipment must be dealt with correctly to standards set out by the new regulations and to meet these standards we have passed the Environment Agency assessment of technical competence and carry a full waste carrier’s licence.” Organisations can contact Telford-based Expo Distribution Ltd. on 01952 608908 or complete a form on-line (sales@expodistribution.co.uk) to arrange for old computers to be evaluated and taken away.Press Calls: Malcolm Stevenson T: 01743 242499 General Notes
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XPO IT Services Ltd. |
t: 01952 608 908 f: 01952 608 913 |
info@xpoitservices.co.uk |
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