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Key Facts

Key Facts

Key facts about IT equipment disposal

IT equipment disposal - a growing problem

  • In the UK, disposal of e-waste is governed by the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013.
  • In 2019, the total world-wide weight of e-waste was 53.6 million tons. A UN survey from July 2020 reported an increase of 21% over the past 5 years.
  • Europe leads the world in e-waste recycling, collecting, and processing 42.5% of its 2019 e-waste.
  • According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the UK.

The need for more efficient IT asset management

  • Less than 20% of e-waste is being recycled or reused.
  • This means that an estimated £34bn in potentially recyclable materials is being lost each year, including £7bn in gold.
  • Each person in Britain generates 23.5kg of e-waste each year, the fifth highest amount in the world.
  • In the UK, only 35 per cent  of e-waste by weight is currently being recycled through recognised schemes (Department for Business). The target for 2019 is 85%!
  • Much e-waste contains potentially harmful materials such as cadmium, beryllium and mercury. A single computer can contain up to 2KG of lead.

How we can help

If you aren’t completely certain how your unwanted hardware is being recycled, reused or disposed of, or whether the valuable business information on it is totally secure, talk to us about better IT asset management. Call one of our experienced team on 01386 555008 or email sales@ocmbiz.com. If you prefer, you can request a call-back at a time to suit you.

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