Executive Summary

 

In today’s fast-paced business environment, IT equipment is becoming more and more essential for day-to-day corporate functions at all organizational levels. Similarly, the technologies used to perform these necessary tasks and processes are also being updated more frequently than ever before. As a result, companies are faced with numerous, new challenges in the disposal of IT equipment. In the face of the spectrum of risks and consequences posed by neglecting these issues — from environmental concerns and privacy and information security issues to possible health, legal, business, and financial problems — modern-day businesses need a broad range of practical solutions that address IT disposal in cost-effective, responsible ways.

 

ECP’s detailed report offers an in-depth analysis of this changing landscape of modern-day equipment disposal. This examination explains how and why IT equipment disposal must be taken seriously and pursued responsibly by businesses and gives an overview of the major internal and external solutions available today. Because the needs and structures of companies vary widely from one to the next, in most cases a combination of methods will be necessary to get the job done. To help give businesses the tools and information they need to create the best IT disposal plan for their particular objectives, this report explains how commonly-used solutions work, and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of each.

 

Dennis Zaucha is a contributing editor for ECP publications focusing on asset, software and vendor management issues.

 

Outline and Contents

 

Executive Summary...................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction................................................................................................................................... 4

The Growing Problem of IT Equipment Disposal............................................................................... 4

The Growing Complexity: Environmental, Health and Information Privacy Issues.................................. 4

The Stiffening Regulatory Climate................................................................................................... 5

Global Social Concerns................................................................................................................. 6

Internal Corporate Concerns........................................................................................................... 6

Why IT Disposal Should Matter to Businesses................................................................................. 6

What Are Businesses To Do?........................................................................................................ 7

External Equipment Disposal Options............................................................................................. 8

Which Approach is Best For Your Business?................................................................................. 10

Comparing the Alternatives........................................................................................................... 10

Interpreting the Comparisons........................................................................................................ 11

Additional Topics of Interest.......................................................................................................... 12

Clearing Information from Hard Drives 12

The Importance of Records and Documentation 12

Selecting and Managing Disposal Providers 13

Disposal Contract Concerns 14

Conclusions................................................................................................................................ 15

Appendix of Exhibit Organization, Content, Assumptions, and Definitions......................................... 16

Exhibit Organization and Content 16

Event, Functional, and Organizational Assumptions 16

Operational Assumptions 16

Task/Cost Category Definitions 17

Task Definitions 17

Footnotes 20

 

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