Category: Blog

The county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services launched a solar panel recycling program last week, expanding upon its November 2022 pilot program.

Daniel Brooks, an environmental services specialist at the county’s Solid Waste Management Program, said this new program falls under their electronic recycling program, which focuses on prevention.

“Many of these devices contain toxic heavy metals,” Brooks said. “We want to keep that out of the waste stream … and going directly to the landfill to prevent groundwater contamination, amongst other things.”

Brooks said in addition to protecting the environment, this program enables people to repurpose and reuse the materials from solar panels. He also said this program is first of its kind in the region.

“[Recycling programs] started with the West Coast and they were years ahead of us, sometimes up to as much as 20 to 30 years in various areas,” Brooks said. “It’s a very growing service as a renewable energy source.”

Since solar panels are relatively new to the area, responsible disposal is too. Brooks said Fairfax County wanted to get ahead of environmental contamination and started the pilot program in November 2022.

According to a 2022 study by the Pew Research Center, 8% of American homeowners said they already installed solar panels within the past year, the majority of which were in the western part of the nation.

The county partnered with PC Recycler, Inc. dba Securis to to refine the recycling process; at the start of the program, 50 solar panels were taken in to figure out the exact process for responsible and reasonable recycling.

“Wanted to figure out the cost metrics, if it was viable to do in-house [recycling], or if we needed to outsource that, and if we outsource that, what measures did we have with those materials?” Brooks said.

Brooks also said this was one step further toward Fairfax County’s sustainability goals, specifically zero waste. He said he’s hoping the county’s work inspires neighboring counties and towns to do the same.

The program is now available to Fairfax County residents only and two drop-off sites are available: the Interstate 66 Transfer Station and the Interstate 95 Landfill.

This story appears in FFX Now 

Join us at booth #748 at the upcoming Data Center World Event which is being held April 15-18 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.

Data Center World is the only global industry event that combines real-world, practitioner, and thought leader expertise with in-depth research and data, and access to a full spectrum of solution providers driving the data center and digital infrastructure industry forward.

Considering attending? You can save $325 with Promo Code Securis325

Hope to see you there!

Batteries are not only bad for the environment when we toss them in the trash, but they can be explosive. Varying types of batteries may need to be handled differently. Overall, if you’re an IT Director looking to dispose of batteries, be sure to know these five things about battery recycling.

1. The risk of improperly disposed of batteries can be extremely dangerous. If lithium-ion batteries touch each other via their connectors, the risk of a fire is massive. Taping up the ends of these batteries is vital to keep them from touching one another. A swollen battery is most at risk of catching fire. This occurs because of excess gasses. Never throw these batteries away. Carefully place them in a container and take them to a specialized recycling facility to ensure proper disposal. 
2. Batteries can be recycled. While each battery is recycled differently, it’s important to reuse the materials rather than mine for new ones. Surprisingly, when mixed correctly, chemicals like sulfuric acid can be turned into water.  Lead, cadmium, and mercury can negatively impact the environment if they aren’t recycled properly.
3. Employees need to be educated on the proper disposal of batteries. An uninformed employee may try to release gas in a swollen battery, which could cause a fire or chemical burn. Additionally, by teaching employees how to recycle batteries, your company reduces its carbon footprint.
4. Responsible recycling is vital. Reputable companies are so important when recycling batteries because non-certified companies may increase legal and/or environmental risks associated with improper disposal. Your existing ITAD company may be able to assist you. If not, it is likely that they will know of a company that they can refer you to!
5. The legalities of recycling batteries tend to differ on a state-by-state basis. Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, all have state-wide battery recycling requirements in effect. DC, Florida,  Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York require the producers of batteries to offer or fund recycling. 

If you have questions about how we can help you recycle batteries at Securis, please contact us here. 

The circular economy is a sustainable way to reuse and regenerate materials often found in technology, which is not only environmentally friendly but can be an economical solution. As more technology enters the economy, we need to get the most from what is already in the cycle.

This system strives to keep materials, products, and services in circulation for as long as possible. The circular economy helps slow climate change by reducing the number of natural resources extracted (which contributes to nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions). 

The 3 Principles of the Circular Economy

The circular economy has three basic principles: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. These principles are fundamental when it comes to recycling your electronics.

Eliminate Waste and Pollution

There are many ways to eliminate waste from our everyday lives. Some companies have reduced or changed their packaging to reduce their carbon footprint. At Securis, we ensure equipment is recycled, repurposed, refurbished, or resold in compliance with our R2v3 certification. 

The circular economy’s purpose is to reduce the amount of pollution produced. Mining for natural resources uses lots of greenhouse gas emissions.

Circulate Products and Materials (at their highest value).

Circulating products and materials that have already entered the market reduces the need for new materials. Extracting materials from a product prevents the material from becoming waste. 

This occurs in two cycles: the technical cycle and the biological cycle. The technical cycle focuses on reusing, repairing, remanufacturing, and recycling products. Rather than focusing on how to keep using materials, the biological cycle focuses on returning biodegradable materials to the earth through composting and anaerobic digestion. 

When it comes to e-waste, the focus will heavily be on the technical cycle and retaining the value of products. An item that works is much more beneficial when reused than a pile of the materials that make it up.  Keeping it together helps keep the maximum value. However, when parts break, it may be more beneficial for the value to repair or refurbish. Eventually, technology gets to a place where it can no longer be repaired or used, so instead, it needs to be repurposed or recycled. Materials can be used in other various ways, be that in technology or other products. 

Regenerate Nature

By eliminating the need to mine for new materials, we can help the earth regenerate itself. This is extremely important when it comes to e-waste recycling. With new technology constantly being created, we need to consider how often we are extracting new materials from the earth rather than regenerating what we already have. By focusing on renewable resources and finding a way to use renewable energy, we can help reduce the impact of climate change. 

Why it’s Important for E-Waste Recycling

It’s crucial to keep the circular economy in mind when disposing of your end-of-life equipment. Rather than tossing it in the garbage, ensure you are getting the most out of your unwanted technology. 

For more information on properly disposing of your e-waste, contact us here. 

Data centers seem to be popping up everywhere. As they close or upgrade, it’s important to reuse as possible in the data center decommissioning process.

The circular economy has become a critical aspect of the tech industry. This prioritizes things like reuse in data center decommissioning processes. 

What can be reused?

There are many parts of a data center that can be reused. For example, when a data center is shut down, the equipment doesn’t need to go to waste, other facilities can utilize it. 

• Server hardware like CPUs, RAM, and network interface cards (NICs) do not hold sensitive information, so if they are in working order, they can be reused, refurbished, or resold.
• Networking equipment like switches, routers, and firewalls can be reused in other data centers. Again, these pieces of equipment do not hold onto data, so they can safely be reused without risking your personal information or data. 
• Power distribution units (PDUs) can be repurposed for other power distribution applications.
• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) provide backup power to data centers and can be reused to provide the same type of power to other data centers. 
• Cooling systems comprised of fans, air conditioners, and chillers can all be used in other cooling systems that may or may not be related to data centers. 
• Racks and enclosures like server racks, cabinets, and cable management systems can be utilized in a different data center or other IT equipment. 
• Copper and fiber optic cabling can be installed in other networks or communication installations. 
• Security systems are transferable to pretty much any other security applications. 

Ensuring data destruction in EOL equipment

Because data centers hold physical versions of data on hard drives, as long as that information is adequately destroyed, your data is secure. Server hardware, networking equipment, and other various pieces of hardware do not hold information, so they do not need to be destroyed in your end-of-life equipment. 

Hard drives and other data-containing storage devices may need to be destroyed rather than reused. Various forms of data destruction services can provide total data erasure. Degaussing can provide magnetic destruction to hard drives, and shredding can provide physical destruction. 

Decommissioned equipment can hold sensitive data, and by working with a professional, like Securis, you can ensure proper recycling and data destruction protocols will be followed for your decommissioning project. If you or your business need a certificate of destruction for auditing purposes, we can provide that. If you need assistance with your data center decommissioning process, contact us here! 

If your business is looking for an e-waste recycling company, knowing that not all are created equally is essential. The best practice would be to search for an R2 certified company. R2 certified electronics recycling companies need to follow strict guidelines. When a company is not R2 certified, there is a lack of accountability in the recycling process. This third-party certification process covers more than 50 areas of operational and environmental performance. Not only does this ensure e-waste recyclers protect our environment, but it also protects human health and safety. 

What does an R2 certification mean?

Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI) established the R2 certification process. Part of SERI’s mission is to minimize the environmental and health risks posed by used and end-of-life electronics. This global certification addresses the entire supply chain and encompasses environmental, health and safety, quality, and data security standards. 

The idea to facilitate a genuinely circular lifecycle for electronics helps extend each device’s life and reuse any and all components, where possible, prior to recycling. Recycling the materials then reduces the need to mine for new materials, allowing the earth to keep those natural resources. 

Finding an R2 certified company

If you’re looking for an R2 certified company, you are in luck! There are nearly 1,000 facilities across 37 counties. Unfortunately, there has been at least one case of a company faking an R2 certification. 

To avoid this mishap, find or even double-check that your e-waste recycling vendor is R2 certified; you can refer to the SERI website. It’s easy to find a company based on region or name!

Why does it matter?

Uncertified recyclers lack accountability. Not only does an R2 certification protect the environment, but it also ensures data protection as well. An R2 certified company ensures that any data that comes via end-of-life technology is appropriately destroyed.

From start to finish, the R2 process takes on the circular economy and the issues many companies face, including environmental, human health, and social welfare impacts. We know how important it is to reuse. However, irresponsible and illegal transfers happen under the guise of reuse. With an R2 certified company, there is no need to worry about careless transfers. 

Responsible recycling is also a vital part of SERI’s mission. Recycling facilities are helping protect human health and the environment by keeping toxic materials out of landfills.

Overall, if a company is R2 certified, you can rest assured that your data and end-of-life technology will be safe in their hands and reach its complete end-of-life potential. As an R2 certified recycler at Securis, we understand how important this is for the global community. Contact us today to learn more. We’d love to help your company do its part in completing the cycle and staying green!

The misconceptions around e-waste recycling can be deterring, but they aren’t the reality. If you have questions about IT equipment recycling, please reach out! We’re here to break these common myths about e-waste recycling!

“E-waste recycling is expensive.”

The truth about recycling is that it can be expensive, but sometimes you might even get paid to recycle! If your e-waste is in good condition, still usable, and you do not need to shred your hard drives, the resale value might surprise you. 

“It’s not secure to recycle electronics.”

While this could be the case with some recyclers, choosing a company that also has data destruction services means there is no need to worry about personal data being accessed. Degaussing and shredding hard drives destroy any personal information that recycled devices contain. 

“E-waste companies outsource the materials and still end up in landfills.”

While this is true for some e-waste recycling companies, if a company is appropriately vetted and has the proper certifications, like an R2 certification, then this does not apply.

“It could harm compliance agreements with clients.”

When choosing an e-waste recycling company, knowing how they’ll work with you and what exactly you can guarantee your clients is essential. At Securis, we scan every item collected so you can know what happens with those items from start to finish. We also have a chain of custody protocol to ensure we follow your personal needs. 

“E-waste recycling is the perfect solution.”

While we wish it were the perfect solution, unfortunately, it is only one step in “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” The first step is a personal choice for both individuals and corporations. Reducing how often you replace computers, phones, etc, is essential. Just because they are outdated does not mean it’s time to upgrade. If there is nothing wrong with your technology, it’s best to keep using it. The next step is to reuse, so if you can buy something you need secondhand or even re-sell a piece of equipment that you’re upgrading, it can help eliminate unnecessary waste. The last step is to recycle. If it’s broken, it’s time to extract the recyclable materials. Unusable e-waste can be used for the materials that make them up, like copper, gold, and other precious metals. 

“Donating and recycling are the same things.”

We’ve been taught that donating helps people in need, and while often that is the case, sometimes the donated items end up in the trash. If your donated computer works, but it’s from 2004, it may not be purchased. Depending on what organization you donate to, items may only sit on a shelf for a certain amount of time before they’re tossed out to make room for other, newer donations. 

“All e-waste recycling companies are the same.”

If a company has branded itself as an electronics recycling company, it’s easy to believe that! However, just because they say that doesn’t mean everything will be recycled. It’s essential to thoroughly vet any recycling company before trusting them with your electronic waste. 

“It is easy to recycle e-waste.”

It may seem easy to throw a computer in a recycling bin; however, you might as well put electronics in the trash at that point. The recycling process for electronics starts by completely dismantling the equipment. Recycling facilities have the resources to collect metals, plastics, precious metals, and more from electronic devices to get the most out of the equipment.

“E-waste isn’t a big deal.”

Unfortunately, e-waste has become a huge international issue. From cell phones to TVs to computers and everything in between, the more technology we use, the more waste is produced.

“It’s a hassle to get rid of e-waste.”

When you find the right recycling company, recycling electronics becomes painless for the consumer. The right company will ensure that personal data is physically destroyed, excess materials aren’t being shipped overseas, and toxic materials are out of landfills.

If you have further questions about how to keep your end-of-life technology out of landfills, contact us today!