Recycle or reuse? There is a correct answer

Many SMEs feel the pressure to stay up to date with the latest technology. Whilst it’s important to have hardware which supports your business’ goals, if you aren’t dealing with your unwanted or outdated devices in an adequate way, you risk contributing to the rapidly worsening e-waste stream.  

To mitigate this, you have two options. Recycling, to ensure valuable resources are extracted and repurposed in a sustainable manner, or reuse, refurbishing and redeploying devices to maximise their useful lifespan. Both options will cut your upfront IT costs and boost your sustainability, but one is better than the other. Learn more in this blog! 

Benefits of recycling 

Boosted sustainability 

Recycling is the most responsible way to dispose of hardware. When working with a reputable partner, you’ll ensure as many valuable resources are extracted from the devices as possible, helping reduce e-waste. You’ll also mitigate potential environmental damage, by preventing harmful materials from being released. 

Ensured compliance 

Your recycling partner should provide you with a full, transparent audit report for your records. This will ensure your business is complying with any relevant regulations and responsibilities.  

Benefits of reuse 

Cut costs 

When your business is in need of equipment, do you buy new every time? This can be very expensive in the long run. By opting to reuse your existing devices, you can reduce your upfront IT spending and boost your bottom line overall.  

When prioritising reuse, you’ll invest more effort into extending the lifespan of your devices. This usually involves planned maintenance, refurbishments and upgrades- this helps prevent costly unplanned maintenance, and reduces the frequency at which you need to replace end-of-life assets.  

Finally, if a device is still functional but no longer necessary in your business, it can be securely wiped, refurbished and sold on to another business. This is a great way to secure additional income. 

Contribute to the circular economy 

Opting for reuse over recycling extends the lifespan of your devices, offering additional sustainability benefits. Reuse contributes to the circular economy, reducing the need for manufacturing new devices, a practice which can be harmful to the environment.  

Which solution should my business opt for? 

If an asset is no longer operational or is beyond repair, it would be sensible to opt for recycling. 

However, if an asset is still functional or may serve a purpose elsewhere in your business (such as in another department), reuse is a much more cost-effective and sustainable solution. Run down or broken devices can always be refurbished or repaired, and outdated components can be replaced to give hardware a new lease of life without unnecessary economic and environmental costs. 

It can be difficult to adopt a reuse-first attitude within your business, especially if you don’t have sufficient resources for conducting repairs and storing assets. If this is a barrier for your business, collaborating with an expert IT partner is the way forward.