Hospitals produce an estimated two million tons of waste every day. The bulk of that waste is composed of things like staples, broken glass, lancets and needles, but tech waste makes its way into the pile as well. All medical communities have procedures in place to safely get rid of hazardous waste, but they don’t all have procedures for getting rid of old tech. As a result, many electronic items simply get thrown away when they reach the end of their useful life.
Old computer monitors and computerized machinery don’t break down in the environment. They also take up a lot of room in landfills. If you represent a hospital or other medical facility, consider doing you part to protect the environment by recycling your old, worn-out tech. Recycled electronics are a hot commodity that can be used to create new, valuable electronics. No matter how old your tech is, chances are good that its individual components can be used and reused over and over again.
Understanding Tech Recycling
Tech recycling is a service that separates and disassembles the individual components inside discarded electronics. By recycling your old tech instead of throwing it away, you minimize waste and make it possible for companies like TechWaste Recycling to turn old products into new ones.
The great news is that almost 100% of tech waste is, in fact, recyclable. It doesn’t need to sit and clutter up the earth. Instead, it can be reused in new electronics. This is a much better option that can leave you guilt-free when you get rid of old technology that you no longer need.
Before You Donate
Before you donate old tech to recycling facilities, make sure there is no confidential information on them. This is especially important for hospitals and other medical facilities. Your machinery often stores confidential patient information. Before you throw out that old monitor or computer, make sure you have wiped all personal data from it first. Unless you are technologically savvy, you may want to hire a professional organization to wipe the information for you. The last thing you want to do is unintentionally violate HIPPA laws by donating tech to a recycling facility that still contains confidential patient data or information about your organization.
Remove Attached Storage
In addition to checking the device’s internal storage before donating it, you should also look for any attached storage. Check all USB ports, DVD drives, floppy drives and card readers. If there is anything in any of these areas, remove it. Turn it in to the appropriate person in charge at your medical facility. Do not attempt to dispose of it yourself without first removing the data from it.
Protect the Future
By the year 2021, experts predict there will be 57 million tons of e-waste produced every single year. Hospitals will no doubt produce a big portion of that number. To protect the environment going forward, every single medical facility should consider responsibly recycling their old computers and other tech waste components. If every hospital does this, the impact on landfills and the environment will be profound.
TechWaste Recycling directly services all of Southern California and provides pickup services to its facilities from nationwide locations. Visit TechWaste Recycling’s website at www.techwasterecycling.com to schedule a pickup that works for your convenience and schedule.
Learn more about TechWaste’s recycling process here: Secure Waste Recycling Services
Contact Info:
Richard Steffens
1940 E. Occidental street
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 866-637-8469
