Electronics Recycling

Redemtech, a Columbus, Ohio-based provider of "Technology Change Management" (TCM) services, has announced that it is offering free asset recovery and recycling services to charitable organizations that receive donated technology from the company’s clients.

"The Redemtech TakeBack Program allows corporations to donate unneeded computers and other surplus technology to nonprofits with confidence, knowing that equipment will be responsibly and safely disposed of at end of life," according to a press release issued by the company.

A corporation’s disposal liability is not transferred completely to the recipient when a company donates technology to nonprofits. With Redemtech’s TakeBack Program, nonprofits that receive donated equipment can contact Redemtech when that equipment has reached its end of life to arrange for free pickup of assets, which are then recycled in compliance with the highest environmental standards, according to the company.

"Corporations considering donating technology have to ensure they are not exposing themselves to data security breaches or downstream environmental liability through the donation process," Robert Houghton, president of Redemtech, says. "Redemtech has pioneered certified data destruction to verify data security on donated equipment and now has closed the gap on environmental concerns by providing free asset recovery service to charitable organizations that receive donated technology through Redemtech."

To use the TakeBack Program, Houghton says the charitable organizations must be located within Redemtech’s service area, which includes the United States and Canada as well as some countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

When it comes to the cost of the TakeBack program to Redemtech, Houghton says, "Honestly, it was something we didn’t consider." He adds that the program is driven largely by the company’s corporate mission, not by economics. The primary cost to Redemtech will come in the form of logistics services, which Houghton says will be variable, making them difficult to estimate.

Wyeth, a pharmaceutical and health care products company, is the first Redemtech client to use the company’s TakeBack Program with its donation of more than 2,000 laptop computers to YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, an affiliate of YouthBuild USA, which directs a network of more than 220 programs designed for low-income youth.

Diana Blankman, Wyeth director of corporate contributions and community outreach, says, "Working in partnership with Redemtech, we hope that this donation will provide YouthBuild and its students with a broader range of tools, adding to the outstanding support and opportunities that this organization currently provides to out-of-school youth in Philadelphia."

The free recycling service covers technology systems meeting minimum requirements donated by Redemtech clients to a 501(c) (3) organization or to an educational institution directly or through the Recycled Computer Initiative (RCI).

RCI is a joint venture between Redemtech and TechSoup.org that was launched in September 2006 and is designed to increase nonprofits’ access to technology.

As a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR), Redemtech can install Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows 2000 and Microsoft Works 7.0 for a $5 administrative fee on computers being donated by corporate entities to eligible recipients.

Donated computers are issued a unique tracking number and labeled with Redemtech’s contact information. When the nonprofit is ready to replace the donated equipment, it may contact Redemtech to arrange for free pickup and recycling.

Redemtech says it has a strict zero-export, zero-landfill recycling policy designed to keep hazardous wastes out of landfills. The company also encourages clients to reuse technology systems where possible to further reduce waste and to increase the return on investment in IT assets.

More information is available at www.redemtech.com.

NextPhase, a Peabody, Mass.-based provider of end-of-life IT asset management services, has launched what it describes as "the industry’s first and only complete online asset management tool."

The Asset Manager is an ordering and real-time reporting system that enables NextPhase customers to electronically manage the process of removing outdated and unwanted corporate IT assets. "Designed to simplify and enhance the IT asset disposition process, it provides visibility and accountability into an organization’s chain of custody and compliant IT asset disposition activities," according to a press release from NextPhase.

The Asset Manager combines the secure transit, data security, processing and documentation activities of retired IT assets into one Web portal. According to NextPhase, its customers can complete the entire disposition process directly through the NextPhase Web site, including scheduling pickups, viewing the real-time disposition status of assets, downloading custom financial and compliance reports and obtaining a customized estimate of asset remarketing values and disposal costs.

"Clearly the ability to manage and track retired IT assets from pickup through final disposition is critical to any organization implementing an IT asset disposal or recycling program," Chris Adam, director of NextPhase Services, says. "The NextPhase Asset Manager gives customers end-to-end visibility into our stringent physical and data protection processes, while also supporting compliant documentation and financial settlement requirements."

NextPhase is an enterprise-level service offering from Converge (www.converge.com), an independent distributor of electronic components, technology products and supply chain services. NextPhase services include IT asset disposal, recycling, remarketing and secure transportation and logistics. More information is available online at www.nextphase
global.com.

Jackson, Miss.-based Intechra, an IT asset disposition and recycling company, has completed its acquisition of EPC, Los Angeles, Calif.; Market2Market, Columbus, Ohio; and SpaceFitters, Hartford, Conn., from Chasm Holding Corp., based in Columbus, Ohio.

According to Intechra, the acquisitions complement the company’s existing operations in Columbus; Dallas; Casa Grande, Ariz.; and Phoenix.

The company’s processing centers in Hartford, Columbus, Dallas and Phoenix handle remanufacturing and remarketing and can process about 335,000 units each month, including computers, monitors, laptops, routers, servers, etc. The recycling centers in Casa Grande and Los Angeles and a recycling operation in the company’s Dallas facility can together recycle about 9 million pounds of electronic assets per month.

"Combining the capabilities and employees of these companies with Intechra creates a powerful, vertically integrated company with a full complement of remarketing, recycling and refurbishment services," Chip Slack, Intechra CEO, says. "We are particularly excited about our added recycling capability because environmental compliance is becoming more important to our clients."