Checklist for Compliant and Cost-Effective Enterprise Hardware Recycling Using IDC G.R.A.D.E. Certification Standards

This IDC study discusses the topic of IT hardware disposal, taking into account risk management, cost avoidance, and environmental stewardship. It provides a list of items to consider when designing an IT hardware retirement (ITAD) strategy. The list is meant to be a road map to best practice based on a number of cases analyzed by IDC and in relation to the ITAD industry's current offerings. The guideline was developed based on IDC's G.R.A.D.E. certification standards as applied to the ITAD service providers and migrated to the end-user sector for maximum efficiency.

"A confluence of events is bringing hardware disposal and recycling to the forefront of the green IT debate. The most recent event that is helping stimulate the conversation is the proliferation of so-called orphan systems. These are millions of desktops, laptops, monitors, printers, servers, mobile devices, and other hardware that have ceased operating virtually overnight as a result of the economic downturn and the resulting mass layoffs. Companies are struggling to deal with their IT hardware's end of life and will find this checklist extremely useful in establishing a sound practice going forward," says David Daoud, research manager in IDC's Personal Computing, PC Trackers, and Green IT Programs. This book may contain less than 24 pages of technical content.