Category: Blog

ESG has become a buzz term in the ITAD industry- but what does it mean? ESG stands for environmental, social, and corporate governance. Sometimes it is referred to as environmental, social, and governance instead. This is the standard that socially and environmentally conscious investors use to screen potential investments and companies. 

It’s important to hold companies, especially e-waste recycling companies, to these standards to ensure that you’re investing in the future of our planet. Sustainable investing or socially responsible investing (SRI) has become increasingly important to some institutional investors. They are looking at ESG to get a more holistic view of a company and what they stand for. 

Environmental

The environmental portion of ESG refers to how a corporation impacts the environment. An ESG rating for a corporation is calculated with factors like their use of greenhouse gases, properly managing their disposal of toxic waste, and their attempts to offset their carbon footprint. 

E-waste is especially detrimental to the environment. Companies that ensure their end-of-life technology does not end up in landfills are aiding in environmental protection and protecting natural resources. The chemicals in all e-waste can enter the earth’s water sources and soil it when not properly disposed of, so it’s essential to ensure everyone knows what happens when recycling electronics.  

Social 

How a corporation interacts with its community, stakeholders, and other businesses contributes to the social aspect of ESG. Suppose a company encourages its employees to volunteer, donates a percentage of its profits to non-profit organizations, and practices socially conscious hiring practices. In that case, its ESG score will be positively impacted. 

This becomes especially vital when examining how a company disposes of its technology. If a business does not use an R2 certified ITAD service, their old technology may end up in landfills or third-world countries being picked for pieces, eventually ending up in the ocean. It’s hard to know who the laborers will pick out pieces of equipment. They could be children who are underpaid or required to work in unsafe conditions. 

Corporate Governance

Corporate governance is the internal way an organization is run and how its goals align with stakeholder expectations. 

If a company commits to recycling its e-waste, but a VP is seen disposing of a broken tablet in the dumpster behind the building, that would negatively impact an ESG score. This ensures that leadership has the same values that the company is publicizing. 

Why It Matters

So at the end of the day, why does this matter? It shows how other companies are looking to improve their ESG score, which is where Securis can help. At Securis, we can ensure that your company properly disposes of any e-waste. 

As an R2 certified company, we know how important it is to keep your e-waste out of landfills. This is important for our environment and the safety of your and your customer’s information. If you are interested in how we could help your organization improve its ESG score, contact us here.

Our smart devices are ever-evolving, from our phones to our watches and everything in between. Many are trying to keep up with the latest and greatest. Each year, there seems to be a newer model of the previous device, with manufacturers and providers alike offering a financial incentive to upgrade.

So what happens with our old devices when we upgrade? They may become e-waste. 

Whether your device stops working because it reaches its end of life or you cast it aside because you’ve upgraded, what do you do with it when you are no longer using it? Recycling or finding someone who can use the device is really the best way to keep more e-waste out of landfills. It’s important to consider how you’re disposing of this tech. If it breaks, it can still hold data, and in some cases, even if it is factory reset. 

These can be referred to as Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Currently, it is estimated that this year the number of  IoT devices will grow by 18% to 14.4 billion, and that number will continue to climb through the years. Are you making sure that you’re doing your part to keep them out of our landfills? It may be time to rethink the process! 

What is an IoT Device?

IoT devices are a network of devices that contain sensors, software, and various other technologies that have internet connectivity. These can be household devices like Nest Thermostats, Amazon Echoes, smart watches, or even large devices like connected cars that start with keyfobs instead of a physical key.

Proper Disposal Is Vital

The best way to reduce your impact when it comes to purchasing new IoT devices is to make sure you’re using what you already have until it dies. We often get excited about the latest technology, but that can come with a lack of concern when it comes to the disposal of devices. 

As consumers, it is easy to look forward to the updated features that a new device may bring and therefore forget how the chemicals that are in our old devices will impact our environment. Heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, and beryllium as well as chemicals like brominated flame retardants, can impact the health of our communities. 

Finding a reliable electronics recycler is a crucial factor for responsible recycling. Some companies send e-waste to landfills in Africa and Asia for reusable materials to be manually harvested. After what can be taken out, the scrap remains, which often ends up in the ocean. 

Securis is a certified R2 electronics recycling company, and we ensure that all of our downstream vendors are as well. If you’re looking for a responsible place to dispose of your e-waste, contact us today! 

You may know that it’s crucial to remove information from hard drives before disposing of them- but do you know the ins and outs of what that means? At Securis, we have the answers. 

What’s the Best Way to Destroy a Hard Drive?

There are two common ways to destroy hard drives and render the confidential information that remains on them inaccessible: degaussing and shredding.

Degaussing Hard Drives

Degaussing hard drives can be the first (or only) step in data destruction. The degaussing process erases data, changing the magnetic domain in which data is stored. Using magnets, it scrambles stored information so it can not be retrieved. Keep in mind that degaussing does not work for solid state drives (SSDs). A previous Securis article contains information on destroying SSDs. 

Shredding Hard Drives

Shredding hard drives ensures that all information is totally destroyed and rendered unusable. By completing this as a stand-alone service or following degaussing, you can be positive that your confidential information has been completely destroyed. Not only does this guarantee total data destruction, but you can be sure that degaussed hard drives will not be confused with hard drives that still have data on them. 

Solid state drives are destroyed by microshredders so they do not slip through the cracks in a regular hard drive shredder.

Can Information be Retrieved from a Shredded Hard Drive?

There is no way to retrieve information from a shredded hard drive if the correct shredding process is followed. By grinding and shredding, materials like magnetic fields and magnetic tapes can no longer be put back together in order to recover information. 

How Much Does it Cost to Shred a Hard Drive? 

For residential customers, our Virginia locations hold monthly drop-off events where hard drives can be shredded for $5 each or $10 if they are still inside a computer. 

For our corporate customers, we know that data security is vital, so we provide various hard drive shredding services. If chain of custody issues are of concern, we can bring our mobile shredding truck on-site for supervised destruction. 

We also offer off-site shredding to those who need assurance that their assets will be destroyed appropriately but need the equipment out of their office or space quickly. With either service, Securis will provide a certificate of destruction for reporting purposes. Prices vary depending on the services needed. 

Did you know January 28th is Data Privacy Day? While the rest of the world may be celebrating, at Securis,  every day is Data Privacy Day. The Securis mission is to securely repurpose electronics. In order to do so, all data that remains on end-of-life computers, laptops, servers, and more must be completely destroyed. Businesses, governments, and individuals are all at risk of having their confidential data compromised without a secure, end-to-end data destruction process in place.  

Much of the discussion around data privacy revolves around sharing information online. While it is important to keep in mind, it’s also important to know that your physical electronics store sensitive data. 

Everybody should be aware that they have the power to take ownership of their personal information and digital identities. The National Cybersecurity Alliance encourages consumers to learn about what information they are sharing online. Let’s take that one step further and make sure we know what information we are storing on our phones and computers. 

According to the Pew Research Center, 81 percent of Americans believe they have very little to no control over the data that’s collected by businesses, and 78 percent are very concerned about how the data is used when it is collected. Businesses should be concerned about their employees’ and customers’ information when they are disposing of their end-of-life equipment. 

We know that customers have had their information compromised at a multitude of organizations like Morgan Stanley, T-Mobile, PayPal, and many more. Are you doing what you can to keep your customers safe? If you’d like to ensure that your information is safe when it’s time to discard old technology, be sure to learn about our federally compliant data destruction process. 

When your phone gets old, becomes out of date, or starts to break, it’s time to decide whether to sell it or trade it in. You might hit the factory reset button, thinking your information is safe. However, your Android may contain some very private information!

Think about what’s on your phone – social security numbers, saved passwords, tax information, and more. In order to ensure that none of your personal information is compromised, it’s important to recycle your smartphone properly.  Using a certified R2 ITAD company with data destruction services keeps your information safe.

“Reset” Phones Still Contain Sensitive Data

Avast purchased 20 used Android phones from eBay that were reset using the manufacturer’s recommended settings. After using an “off-the-shelf digital forensic file,” it recovered more than 40,000 pieces of personal and sensitive data, including photos, emails, texts, and even the previous user and their contacts. Users believed they had erased all data by using the factory reset option, but their sensitive information was all still available. 

Why Do Reset Phones Still Contain Personal Information?

Your phone has been reset to your manufacturer’s settings. So, how is information still being recovered? Avast discovered that the operating system was removing and deleting information from files and showing it as free, but in reality, it remained on the drive or storage card. 

What Avast found was that the hard reset on the phone was not actually occurring, and user information could be recovered.  

Android Recycling: Good for Protecting Personal Information and the Environment

How you’ll make this decision depends on what you want to do with your device when you replace it. If your device is broken, your best option is to recycle it. An IT Asset Disposition company will recycle your phone and protect your data by totally erasing it. By shredding the SIM card or storage card, you can be certain that your data will be inaccessible.

At Securis, we ensure that all phones and other electronic devices are completely wiped of all data and information before we remarket or recycle the materials. Data erasure is vital prior to upcycling anything. By reselling phones, we help keep electronic equipment out of landfills. 

If that still makes you apprehensive, shredding is an option to provide total physical destruction. By shredding the SIM card and any parts that contain personal information, total destruction is guaranteed. Let us know how we can help you protect your personal information by contacting us here.

Proper disposal for government contractors is vital for federal compliance. Different businesses and data centers may have varying regulations regarding data destruction. Securis has been in the business of data destruction for more than 20 years. 

The Securis degausser is on the NSA-evaluated products list as an appropriate method of destruction. Our degaussers are NSA-approved and mobile so that we can destroy data on-site. Degaussing is the only federally approved method to sanitize classified and top secret level information.

The degausser uses a magnet to change the data that is stored on magnetic storage devices, making it unreadable. This can be used on items like hard drives, DLT tapes, cassettes, and more. The process renders hard drives unusable since it completely wipes the stored data. 

For sensitive data, degaussing is often followed by the physical destruction of your company’s data-containing devices. Going the extra step to shred your equipment guarantees further and complete destruction. A degaussed hard drive looks the same as a perfectly intact hard drive. Shredding the material after degaussing ensures that everything is properly disposed of. 

We also provide a certificate of destruction for auditing purposes. Whether we degauss your equipment on or off-site, we will provide this certificate for your records along with an audit-ready IT equipment inventory list. 

Additional Security Measures to Protect Classified Data 

To protect classified data, all of our employees go through background checks. They’re completed upon hiring and repeated every three years of employment with Securis. We want to ensure that your data is secure every step of the way. 

Securis is compliant with all federal, state, and industry regulations. Click to see our certifications and compliance list.

Securis is committed to protecting the chain of custody. All vehicles have GPS tracking and intrusion protection reinforcement. 

If you need to see your hardware destroyed, no problem. If you need to sign off to have one of our employees witness it and provide the aforementioned certificate of destruction, we can do that. We’re here to help you do what is best for your organization’s needs when it comes to data destruction! 

Learn more here!

Technology constantly changes, which may leave you wondering, “Where can I recycle computers?” Electronics recycling is vital when constantly upgrading our phones, TVs, computers, and laptops for the newest model to hit the market. 

Finding somewhere to recycle your computer should be easy, but there’s more to it than that. It’s essential to consider several factors when recycling computers. The most important factors to consider are:

• When you throw away a computer, and it goes to the landfill, you are throwing away not only your personal information but also precious resources. Plastic and metals take hundreds of years to decompose. However, what is even more vital to keep out of landfills are the chemicals that can leach into our soil and enter our water systems. 
• While donating your computer to somewhere like Goodwill* may seem viable, they may not ensure your data is destroyed. If the computer works, the person who purchases it may be able to retrieve your tax information, credit card payments, and other personal information. 
• Before recycling, ensure that the place you choose will destroy your data and that each piece of your computer will be appropriately disposed of. This not only protects you but your carbon footprint as well. 

Here are some places you can check out to see if there is a recycling program near you:

• The R-2 Certified Database
  • R-2-certified companies follow a rigorous set of standards to reuse and recycle responsibly. These are formally evaluated to protect the health of the environment, employees, and communities. It’s important to note that all downstream vendors of your IT recycling company are also R-2 certified. 
• Earth 911
  • Earth 911 has the recycling answer to all unwanted goods, including e-waste. Type in your zip code and what you’re looking to recycle, and you will be provided with what you’re looking for within a radius of your choosing!
• E-Stewards Database
  • Much like the R-2 certified database, E-Stewards is a similar database based on their certification qualifications. Companies that hold this certification ensure data security and brand protection. Additionally, these companies care about human rights and environmental justice. 
• Securis.com
  • See if there is a Securis location that may be able to help you or your business. With four locations, Securis provides electronics and computer recycling across the East Coast. From ensuring that our natural resources are responsibly recycled to helping businesses keep electronic waste out of landfills, we’re here for all your e-waste needs! Not only are we R-2 certified, but we also ensure that all of our downstream vendors are. We want to protect our environment, customers, and employees from steps A to Z. 

Recycling electronics helps provide environmental protection, and using a trusted e-waste recycling company can help keep your personal information safe. Before recycling, a company like Securis will remove all personal data from your devices.

Data breaches occur not only to big corporations but to individuals as well. Our computers contain tax returns, credit card payments, savings account information, and personal information. Be sure to properly dispose of your equipment to protect yourself from this information ending up in the wrong hands. 

*Some Goodwills partner with Dell to eliminate data and/or recycle broken computers appropriately. However, this partnership is not nationwide. 

While the easiest thing to do is toss old batteries into a garbage can, proper battery disposal methods are vital. Batteries can be recycled safely, but it’s essential to do it correctly for safety reasons. Recycling batteries isn’t easy, especially since each type needs to be disposed of differently.

LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES

Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion batteries) are standard in laptops, cell phones, and electric cars. They come in two forms: soft and dry. The increased usage of these batteries in our everyday lives has led to increased fires due to improper disposal of them.

Because they contain hazardous waste, it’s crucial to find a company that can recycle them properly. 

There are two main recycling options for these batteries: pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. 

• Pyrometallurgy separates the mixed metal alloy of cobalt, copper, iron, and nickel. 
• Hydrometallurgy recovers metals and ores from lithium-ion batteries. 

LEAD ACID BATTERIES

Lead acid batteries can be recycled and can contain value. Some materials, like impure lead, can be returned to battery manufacturers and recycled into new batteries. Sulfuric acid can be turned into water. Eighty percent of the materials are turned into new batteries.

Putting these into the garbage would allow the lead and sulfuric acid in them to leach into our soil, water, and other valuable natural resources.

SINGLE-USE ALKALINE BATTERIES (AA, AAA, C, and D)

Christmas morning can be disappointing if you don’t have single-use batteries on hand for your kid’s newest toys. However, these batteries have corrosive chemicals that shouldn’t be dumped into landfills leaking into our soil. AA, AAA, C, and D alkaline batteries are household hazardous waste. 

To properly recycle them, they should be placed into a rotary kiln to recover any zinc oxide in them. This can be reused in various plastics and ceramics. 

BUTTON CELL BATTERIES

Button cell batteries contain mercury and therefore need to be disposed of properly. From hearing aids to watches and other small electronics, button batteries are pretty standard in our households. 

Ingredients like mercury can be found in batteries, which is why it is important to recycle them. When we recycle, we prevent more mercury from being mined. 

Securis Can Help!

If your business is unsure how to properly dispose of batteries inside your laptops and other devices, we can help! 

If you live in the DC metro area, we host monthly recycling events at our Chantilly, VA warehouse, where you can drop off your old electronics*. 

*There may be a fee for proper battery disposal

On Thursday, November 10, 2022, Securis attended the 21st annual High Tech Prayer Breakfast. It’s a unique event that provides inspiration, connection, and great food to the Northern Virginia technology community. While food feeds our bodies, inspiration and global connection fill our souls in the data center, electronics recycling, hard drive destruction, and business communities.

Securis encourages all interested employees to attend the High Tech Prayer Breakfast, regardless of religion, transportation needs, and work schedules. Securis offers solutions to each challenge. Regarding transportation, don’t worry about parking in the crazy grid of Tyson’s Corner. Securis brings a bus to the headquarters in Chantilly, VA.

Securis hosted eight tables for the event, filled with our employees, vendors, and other industry partners. We enjoyed hearing the testimonies of Shira Lotzar and Carl Grant over breakfast.