Step 2: Dispose of Tech More Responsibly
Device recycling and e-waste management is another priority. The World Health Organization reports that the creation of e-waste is escalating three times faster than the global population, making it the fastest-growing solid waste stream in the world. Without proper treatment and disposal, e-waste releases toxic compounds into the air and groundwater, adversely affecting the environment and its inhabitants.
By implementing IT asset disposition, businesses can responsibly dispose of outdated tech equipment so that parts can be reused, recycled or resold, perhaps in partnership with a nonprofit, such as Computers 4 People or Human-I-T. These organizations repurpose discarded electronics for educational use, helping communities in need.
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“It’s important that companies know of options to donate their old electronic equipment so that it doesn’t end up in a landfill,” says Dylan Zajac, founder and executive director of Computers 4 People. “I think donating is possibly the best option because it’s free. And don’t you want to know that your computer went to a good cause?”
Donation is a way of recycling old technology, but businesses can also resell it to an IT service provider or refurbish it so that working parts are salvaged. IT leaders can choose from a range of options to reduce e-waste.
DIG DEEPER: Achieving efficient energy use in your tech ecosystem.
Step 3: Implement a Lifecycle Management Strategy
In 2023, 72 percent of CEOs pledged to prioritize digital investments. But to get the maximum ROI, the technology itself needs to run properly and last a long time. That’s where a technology lifecycle management strategy comes in. It can help increase business productivity while mitigating excess energy use and ensuring sustainable practices, from device acquisition to disposal.
An effective lifecycle management strategy considers the complete IT environment from software and hardware to Software as a Service. It also requires two components: IT asset management and IT asset disposal. In short, how will IT leaders manage their technology during active use? And once it is time to retire the technology, how can the organization dispose of it responsibly?
Answering these questions will help organizations extend the lifecycle of their technology and ensure that each product boosts a part of the business.