How Refurbished Computers Save the Earth
This blog has a pretty lofty title, but it’s the backbone of our key promise to grow a sustainable company that never returns anything it receives to a landfill. This means we need to track everything we receive, and make sure if it is not refurbished and resold, that the components that make up the various tech devices we handle are kept in a careful chain of custody that place recyclable commodities like plastic, glass and metal into equally responsible hands. The other more harmful contents are also then managed by partners who can safely and responsibly dispose of them.
What’s in it for You is What’s in it for the Earth
But let’s back up a moment. The process begins with changing a buyer’s mindset. You’ve heard the term “Adopt, don’t shop” when it comes to pets? Similarly, it’s in everyone’s best interest to consider purchasing a refurbished computer, especially when it comes with equal or better internal components that what you’d likely find new in a big box store. Be smart and do your homework, and you’re also likely to land a great device for a far lower cost, saving your pocketbook as well.
We’re celebrating Earth Day this month, so let’s take a look at what might really happen to a computer that is simply thrown out (in most states that’s illegal), or turned into an establishment that labels themselves as “green” or “earth-friendly.” Understand that every electronic device contains some levels of lead, mercury and cadmium, all of which can contaminate groundwater if they end up in a landfill. So, not earth-friendly at all.
In one study from an e-waste watchdog group called the Basel Network, and MIT, a group of researchers “tagged” 200 various devices and then dropped them off at recycling centers that presented themselves as green and earth-friendly to track where they would end up. About one-third ended up overseas, most often in Asian countries and in particular rural Hong Kong. There, the lack of regulation leaves workers, the ground they walk on, the air they breathe and the water they drink exposed to harmful chemicals.
It was equally disheartening for the lead researcher to find some of the e-waste in these sites came from companies that had been certified as e-Stewards, an organization that he himself helped to create.
What Can We Control? A LOT!!!
Truly, we know we can’t entirely prevent or control others’ actions. In addition, without a federal law to ban the export of e-waste, there isn’t much to be done legally, yet. In addition, the costs of commodities have plummeted, making domestic recycling more costly and less profitable.
However, when you have developed a business model that offers a better, safer and frankly easier way of dealing with discarded electronics, it’s our responsibility as stewards of our planet to refurbish computers whenever we can to help at least stem the tide.
As a company, our biggest impact is in working with companies to solve their problems in taking decommissioned tech and securely destroying their data without destroying the devices. These units are often enterprise quality, which means the components in these refurbished computers give customers a more solid device to use for many more productive years. Supporting this initiative by purchasing refurbished versus new will have a positive impact on our environment.
What is the Impact of Buying Refurbished Computers, Exactly?
Revive IT is relatively small in the scope of the technology industry, but in our short existence,
- We’ve captured well over 26 million pounds of e-scrap and refurbished computers, resold them, or responsibly recycled them to keep them out of landfills
- Partners are incentivized to work with us to manage their aging IT assets, and as a result, have realized well over $100 thousand in donation “credits” to give devices to organizations that desperately need tech to support their communities
Knowing that every new computer (desktop and monitor) requires 530 pounds of fossil fuels to create, “used” becomes far more than useful, especially if you take good care of them. Refurbished computers obviously don’t require anything from our earth, and over time we hope that the volume of e-waste, which is responsible for 70 percent of all toxic waste globally, is drastically reduced.
In addition, E-Stewards has developed an app for that called the Global Impact Calculator, and if you want to know what your purchase of a refurbished computer could mean, it will calculate it for you. For example, if you purchased one basic setup for a desktop computer, nearly 10 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced, and over a pound of metals has been diverted. Go, you!!
And when a company calls for a pickup of their decommissioned units, we’re talking a conservative estimate of nearly 900 pounds reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and over 100 pounds of metals diverted. Often it’s higher based on the amount of devices being discarded.
We direct anyone with a small amount of devices to take them to stores that offer accountable, responsible recycling. We know that while the process is still not perfect even among certified recyclers, as the research has found out, there are at least consequences that can be dealt to companies that aren’t compliant.
When you need to part with your old laptop...
Here are a few resources that can help you feel confident that it will be dealt with properly:
- Use a recycler that has been certified by Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI).
- Ask about “R2” certification (Responsible Recycling) with the e-Steward network. Staples is among familiar retailers that is a part of this enterprise and offers to recycle for free.
- Basel Action Network also has a similar search on their website.
The answer to many problems is often to become part of the solution, and the good news is that every person, every company has the power to change the paradigm. Earth day is April 22, and we’re excited to make it a happy earth day, simply by staying focused on our mission to leave this earth better than we found it, and to allow our partners the opportunity to do the same.