The warning comes from a Shropshire-based company that specialises in recycling and remarketing redundant IT equipment.

“For many organisations redundant computers systems and other IT equipment is only fit for the skip. They don’t realise that their old IT equipment has a value and can be re-marketed,” Expo IT Recycling & Remarketing’s Steve Jones said.

Tough new regulations introduced recently sets out to encourage organisations to use licensed operators to recycle or dispose of old IT equipment. Failure to comply with new Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment regulations (WEEE) can mean a fine of up to £5,000 by magistrates and an unlimited fine by crown courts.

“It can be a double whammy for some organisations. They can be fined for not disposing of redundant IT equipment properly and they are missing out on the opportunity to generate income by re-marketing it.

“The amount of money being wasted can be substantial for organisations that replace large IT systems in one go. Taken across the UK it must run into many millions,” Steve Jones added.

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.”

Expo has launched an IT equipment collection service and can advise organisations on how best to stay inside the new regulations. They can be contacted on 01952 608908.

Press Calls:

Malcolm Stevenson
Head of PR
Parker Ward

T:     01743 242499
M:     07870 890799
End

 General Notes

• The average lifespan of a computer has fallen from 4-6 years in 1997 to 2 years in 2005.
• Computers have more than 1,000 materials, including biologically active materials, acids and plastics.  Computer monitors contain lead oxide and barium and the screen glass is coated with cadmium.
• WEEE applies to IT and telecommunications equipment, consumer equipment, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools, medical devices, monitoring and control instruments, automatic dispensers and large and small household appliances.
• To date there have been no organisations prosecuted under the WEEE regulations which came into force on January 2 this year.

XPO IT Services Ltd.
PO Box 302, Distribution House, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 9AT, UK