IT Asset Disposition

INTRODUCTION Imagine that you've got a few computers in your home. Do you use them anymore? Do you use your iPhone for a majority of your internet transactions? What do you do with your old computers? Throw them in the garbage? Give them away? Who wants them? Electronic waste (or e-waste) is the term for discarded electronic or electrical devices. E-waste may contain hazardous materials like lead, cadmium, beryllium and others (even gold). Plus the quantity of e-waste generated puts more demand on landfills and recyclers. [e-waste, Wikipedia]. The often cited Moore's Law talks how new technologies that are faster for about the same price can be blamed for the generation of e-waste. After all, who wants a computer or a phone that doesn't function at the speed and with all the advantages of a newer model? This paper is designed to make you think about what to do with all your old and outdated IT equipment (e-waste). Think about the waste generated by one person, by one family, by one household unit. You might have two computers and an old VCR player you'd like to get rid of. Then think about your neighbors, your family, your friends, and your employer? The likelihood that all of these have outdated equipment lying around is quite high. But ... it poses an issue - how to dispose of such e-waste and will it cost you anything to dispose (after all, it is just trash to you)? This paper specifically focuses on the disposition of computers and corporate responsibilities. The second section of this paper will review legislation regarding the disposal of equipment as well as the data that resides on the equipment. Do you have private information on those computers? Does it go away if you throw it in the garbage? If you think so, think again! Any information that is on a computer can be retrieved and potentially used against you in harmful ways. THE BIG PICTURE Do you have any old computers lying in your house or your work? If you're like most people, you probably do. That's the problem. There is a huge amount of stockpiled e-waste that is now starting to find its way into landfills. In addition, the rate at which the amount of e-waste is increasing is staggering. The downside of the rapid advances in technology is that products become obsolete more quickly as well. In 2008, we generated 3.16 million tons of electronic waste in the U.S. alone ("Facts and Figures," 2010). It is estimated that between twenty to fifty metric tons of e-waste is disposed of worldwide on an annual basis. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in America today (United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2012). Right now, wherever you are, state and federal agencies are working to address the issue through regulations and/or other initiatives. For the remainder of this document, we will focus on computer recycling but the general principles remain the same for most e-waste. UNDERSTANDING THE CONCERN It seems more and more people spend time in front of a PC. Between work and the home PC, many of us even find it hard to imagine what it would be like to go a day without logging in. So how can these benign little productivity tools and entertainment centers do us any harm? Let's start by taking a look at what is inside your friendly PC (Conger, n.d.). * Barium - Found in CRT's and used to block radiation. Barium is suspected to cause reproductive, developmental, neurological and respiratory problems. * Cadmium - Found in batteries, printed circuit boards, and some plastics. Cadmium is considered among the most hazardous chemicals by the EPA. It is a known carcinogen that can cause reproductive and developmental problems. * Hexavalent Chromium - Another carcinogen used to protect against corrosion. Hexavalent Chromium may also cause respiratory problems. * Lead - By far the largest toxin within a PC System and is classified as hazardous by the EPA. …