Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't we just donate our equipment to a local school?

Many schools and charities will no longer take computer equipment as donations. That's because they'd simply be assuming the liability and cost for end-of-life disposal. In most cases, by the time computers are donated to the schools, they are years behind the current generation of technology, and end up costing more to maintain than purchasing new ones.

I paid a recycling fee when I bought my new monitor. Doesn't that cover the cost of recycling my old one?

The charges for e-waste destruction and recycling ensures low cost solutions for the destruction or recycling of electronics that are entering the workplace or home office now and in the future. This charge does not pertain to equipment that has already become obsolete. Companies dealing with the collection and disposal of these materials incur substantial overhead costs to collect and recycle them. New ones cost so little and manufacturers often have extra discounts for them.

Other people offer to dispose of my PC for free. Why shouldn't I use them?

Many companies who would offer to take away your materials for free, or would even pay you for them, should be closely scrutinised. Understand that once these materials leave your control, they will most likely be sold to the highest bidder, and the subsequent computer scrap could end up in an unauthorised location that could lead back to you. If you're a small business, this could lead to heavy fines for your organisation. Data erasure is not guaranteed and prosecution under the Data Protection Act is possible.

Why should I pay to have my e-waste properly collected and disposed of?

Most people feel this way. However, if you or your company has a lot of material that needs disposing of, there are costs to consider that might make you think twice about handling it yourself. Transport costs, packing materials, labour, insurance, as well as potential liabilities due to improper handling. These can all add up to much more time, money and trouble than you or your company might want to deal with. Instead, just contact Hand IT Back so that we can work with you to put together a removal plan that fits your unique needs, and is probably less expensive than if you were to handle it yourself.

What about identity theft?

Whether you recycle or donate your computer equipment, you should consider "wiping" your hard drive(s) to ensure all personal data cannot be recovered (remember, deleting your files is not enough!). Hand IT Back makes sure no-one will be able to get hold of your personal data…. because we destroy all the hard discs we are sent.

How does Hand IT Back destroy hard discs?

We shred them. It's as simple as that. They are passed through our specialised German built shredders and chewed up into tiny pieces.

What happens to the hard drives once they have been destroyed?

Once the hard discs have been destroyed, the materials they contain are separated and are recycled. We use authorised metal and plastic recyclers and keep a complete audit trail of any waste that we produce. Our annual WEEE disposal reports show our customers just how much tin, iron, lead and plastics we prevent going to landfill.