Gateway Puts a New Spin on PC Recycling

You can’t just toss them in the dumpster — computers and monitors are filled with components containing hazardous elements such as lead, arsenic and mercury. Then there’s business data that needs to be painstakingly removed — or at least rendered inaccessible.

If you find that your small business is saddled with stacks of old computer equipment, why not get credit for recycling them in an environmentally friendly manner? Consider sending your mothballed microchips to Gateway’s new Asset Recovery Services.

Under the new program, Gateway customers get credit for their old PCs, as well as on-site removal and the peace of mind that the machines will be broken down and recycled in an environmentally friendly way.

“We used Gateway Asset Recovery Services to upgrade to Gateway Profile 4 computers in service agencies city-wide — from the mayor’s office to our municipal courts to the city zoo,” said Neil Wilson, user system consultant II for the City of Topeka. “Gateway collected the old units, scrubbed information from the machines, insuring that the City’s confidential data was completely removed, and then sent us a check for the units they were able to refurbish and resell. So far, we’ve made money on our old computers.”

Gateway’s Asset Recovery Services program features two unique components — End of Life (EOL) Certified Disposal and Used Equipment Remarketing Service. EOL Certified Disposal removes and recycles outdated hardware in compliance with changing local, state, federal and EPA guidelines, while also cleaning data from hard drives to protect confidential data. Pricing for Gateway Asset Recovery Services is $30 per unit.

But the Used Equipment Remarketing Service could provide small businesses with cash or credits toward future Gateway hardware purchases — depending on the condition of the equipment and whether it can be refurbished and resold. Just remember — Used Equipment Remarketing Service credits are applied separately from service fees.

Gateway also takes care of palletizing, shrink-wrapping and transporting the equipment, as well as providing asset-tracking documentation. Ultimately, this service saves organizations’ time and money by alleviating processing and inventory. In fact, the City of Topeka has removed or upgraded more than 500 units to date, saving about one hour of processing per unit — or more than 62 eight-hour workdays.

“There are more important things for organizations to worry about than what to do with their old and outdated hardware,” said Jim Jones, vice president of services, Gateway. “Gateway Asset Recovery Services provides a single point of accountability for meeting guidelines on hardware disposal, and also allows organizations to reinvest in new equipment. Not only does this mean more green in terms of cash, but also organizations can be assured they’re being green with the environment.”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that computers and other electronic equipment account for about 220 million tons of waste per year in the United States, and that 75 percent of obsolete electronics are still gathering dust in storerooms. Unlike many asset recovery programs that send most discarded equipment to landfills, Gateway ensures that nearly every unit of unusable hardware is recycled, including toxic components such as CRT monitors, circuit boards and toner cartridges. In addition, the breakdown process itself leaves no waste.

The new Asset Recovery Services are a critical component of Gateway’s Business LifeCycle strategy to provide organizations with the hardware, support and related services they need through all stages of the hardware’s lifespan. From installation to training to disposal, Gateway is taking a big-picture view of asset management and can customize a lifecycle program for nearly any size organization.

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Small Business Computing Staff
Small Business Computing Staff
Small Business Computing addresses the technology needs of small businesses, which are defined as businesses with fewer than 500 employees and/or less than $7 million in annual sales.

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