Until recently, it was easy to turn a blind eye to electronic waste (e-waste). It used to be that once old and broken computers, televisions and all sorts of consumer electronics where shipped overseas, it was out of sight and out of mind. But now, thanks to some high-profile investigative reports and images like these from The New York Times Magazine, the devastating effect of e-waste on developing nations is getting tougher to ignore.
Businesses, in particular, should take heed. Besides being good corporate citizens and preventing scenes like these from playing out in the developing world, responsible and secure electronics recycling and e-waste handling helps prevent costly security and compliance breaches. And it’s not just old PCs and servers that can spill secrets, photocopiers can too. And don’t worry if you can’t do it in-house; there are plenty of recyclers and data-wiping experts — sometimes one and the same — that can get you on the right track.
I encourage you to take a look at the NYT gallery and keep those images in mind when you’re faced with the decision to recycle your electronics or simply toss them away.
Gallery (and image credit): A Global Graveyard for Dead Computers in Ghana – The New York Times Magazine
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