Are you legal?
There are
numerous issues that govern the disposal of
redundant computer equipment. At Secure IT
Disposals we employ the BATRRT (Best Available
Treatment, Recovery and Recycling Techniques)
philosophy in order to guarantee that our
service not only meets, but surpasses, the
latest government and EU standards and laws.
The main legislation is:
The Environment Act
You need to be aware that your company has a
Legal Duty of Care to take all reasonable
measures to ensure:
-
All redundant computer equipment is classed as waste. CRTs are
Hazardous
waste
-
You must ensure that the people who collect
from you have a Waste Carrier Licence
-
You must ensure that your equipment goes to a fully
licensed site
-
Your legal Duty of Care extends to when your equipment is reused, recycled or disposed of.
To protect yourself
always use companies who are fully licensed
by the Environment Agency.
You can check all our
certificates
The Data Protection Act
1998
The Data Protection Act requires that all information collected by an
organisation be destroyed when the media on which it is stored becomes
redundant.
The Hazardous Waste
Directive
All batteries and cathode ray tubes come under the this directive. The
transportation of loose batteries and CRT's can only be carried out by a licensed
waste carrier under a special waste note.
Since 16th July 2004 anything containing a Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) have been
reclassified as Hazardous Waste. This includes computer monitors and
televisions.
For more
information on the Hazardous Waste Directive and
to register click here
The Waste Electronic &
Electrical Equipment Directive
The WEEE Directive came into force
in January 2007. Under this Directive anything
that requires a current to flow though it to operate has to be recycled in
accordance with the standards set out in the Directive. This includes all I.T.
equipment.
Although the Directive is not currently in force any item that is to be recycled
is done so to the standards set out within the WEEE Directive.
Manual Handling
Regulations
Employers are required, through the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992,
to ensure that activities involving manual contact with hazardous materials are
avoided where this is reasonably practical
Electrical Equipment
(Safety regulations) 1994
The safety of refurbished or second-hand equipment is controlled by these
regulations. All persons who supply electrical equipment in the course of
business, including auctions, must ensure that the equipment is safe. Whilst
there is no mandatory requirement for refurbished or second-hand equipment to
undergo any safety testing, suppliers will want to ensure that the equipment is
safe so as to avoid committing an offence under the Regulations. The safety
requirements of the Regulations cover all aspects of safety and are not limited
to electrical safety.
Illegal Exports of
redundant Computer and IT Equipment
Under UK and international law it is illegal to export, or allow the export of
any redundant computer equipment that is classified as Hazardous waste outside
the EU or to any country that is not a member of the OECD. The legislation
governing this is defined in the Basel Convention to which the UK is a
signatory.
Computer monitors and terminals as classed as Hazardous Waste because they
contain 20-25% lead.
At Secure I.T. Disposals we get at least 3 inquiries every day from companies
wanting to buy untested, faulty or scrap monitors. We do not sell any untested,
faulty or scrap monitors to anyone. All of the monitors that we can not sell
are sent to a lead smelter in Belgium and are used as part of the smelting
process. By using the CRT tubes they are able to reduce their energy
consumption by 16%.
Although there is a cost to us using this method of recycling we do it because
its legal, environmentally friendly and above all - its the right thing to do.
Do you know where your redundant computer equipment ends up ?
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