Compliance Check-list
To make sure your company complies with all government regulations in terms of IT asset disposal, here is a summary of the legislation relevant to IT recycling:
Environmental Protection Act 1990
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 from fines, always use companies who are fully licensed by the Environment Agency. As we are.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) started to apply on 25 May 2018, when it superseded the UK Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). Significant and wide-reaching in scope, the new law brings the 21st century to data protection. It expands the rights of individuals to control how their personal data is collected and processed, and places a range of new obligations on organisations to be more accountable for data protection.
For the first time, monetary sanctions of up to 4% of global annual turnover will apply to breaches of the regulation. So if you store or have used customers’ data, you can protect customers’ and stakeholders’ from the adverse effects of a data breach, and protect your company’s reputation and avoid fines, by disposing of your data-bearing devices securely.
Health and Safety
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.
Our staff are fully trained in safe practices and experienced in working with various waste residues and to customer site Health and Safety requirements. Not only that but our public liability insurance covers you for your peace of mind.
We also provide our customers with method statements, safe system of work and risk assessments.
The Hazardous Waste Directive
All batteries and cathode ray tubes come under 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.
Anything containing Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) are classified as Hazardous Waste. This includes computer monitors and televisions.
Not sure if we produce hazardous waste. How do I know?
In the past, most companies did not produce hazardous waste. However, on 15th July 2005 numerous items previously not classed as hazardous waste were reclassified. The two main ones were CRT monitors and acid batteries.
Do I need to register?
If you dispose of 200 kg or more of hazardous waste per year, then you will need to register with the Environment Agency.
What happens if I do not register?
Without a registration number from the Environment Agency your computer recycler will not be allowed to collect any computer monitors. If they do, then both you and the recycler can be fined.
What waste do Secure IT Disposals handle?
We are licensed to process any Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), batteries, Toner/laser cartridges and Inkjet cartridges. Please note that we do not handle waste oil, clinical waste, chemicals, paints etc.
Waste Electronic & Electrical Equipment (WEEE)
Since the WEEE Directive came into force in January 2007, 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 IT equipment.
We have AATF, the highest standard of licensing available from the Environment Agency for sites that treat WEEE and recycle any electrical items to the standards set out within the WEEE Directive. So by using us, you have it covered.
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 Export of Redudant 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 are classed as Hazardous Waste because they contain 20-25% lead.
How it Works
Our Quick & Easy 4 Stages Process
Evaluation
You will receive an initial evaluation of your equipment within 24 hours after submitting an inventory.
Collection
Collection all over the UK with own vehicles and authorised couriers assisted by our trained staff.
Data Wiping
Testing and inventorying your equipment, followed by secure data erasure providing data wipe certificates.
Reporting
Within 7 days after collection, as a result of testing, you will receive a final evaluation report.
What We Collect Services
Computers And Laptops
Photocopiers And Printers
Smartphones And Tablets
Audio-Visual And Multimedia
