Its easy being green

As Australian businesses waste money and endanger their confidential information and the environment with the irresponsible disposal of their IT equipment, Australian eCycling specialist, Greenbox, has launched a free self-assessment tool for businesses to help them rate their recycling programs.

The assessment is completed via an online survey on Greenbox’s website and includes questions on disposal strategies, compliance with laws and standards, and internal accountability. The survey compares respondents’ scores with industry averages and recommended minimums, and provides practical advice on how companies can ensure they are meeting environmental requirements.

“Since Greenbox was established in 2000, we have diverted more than 3.6 million kilograms of IT waste from landfill and recovered tens of millions of dollars for our customers,” says Shane Mulholland, Managing Director, Greenbox.

Greenbox offers its services to large enterprises and government departments, giving them an easy and safe alternative to throwing out their old computers, servers, printers and networking equipment. The company collects, processes and disposes of the equipment using a unique method which generates an optimum financial return for its customers. Greenbox is currently offering the self-assessment survey free of charge for a limited time, together with a discount on its services.

“It’s easy to forget about environmental programs, or add them to the luxury category, when economic times are tough,” continues Mulholland. “But the ethical disposal of leftover IT equipment is the easiest short-term green initiative a company can implement. It can also help businesses protect the data on their old computers and earn them money.”

Only about one quarter of computers disposed of annually are recycled and Greenbox estimates Australians will dump about 1.5 million computers into landfill in 2009*. Greenbox has a zero landfill policy and uses a transparent system that allows businesses to log in and track the progress of their assets through the disposal process. The system also allows customers to see the costs and financial returns.   

“In a time when budgets in every department are being slashed, most of our customers are making a financial return on their old IT equipment, or at the very least covering the cost of the disposal,” says Mulholland.

Greenbox says the ethical disposal of end-of-life IT equipment is important not just to a company's management, but also to its investors, customers and business partners.

“Analysts including Gartner and IDC have long recommended using an external service provider to ensure data is correctly erased, optimal residual value is realised and environmental obligations are met,” concludes Mulholland. 

Greenbox’s self-assessment survey can be taken at: http://www.greenbox.com.au/

* Waste Recycling in Australia: http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/waste/publications/pubs/waste-recycling2008.pdf

About Greenbox

Greenbox is an industry leader in green IT asset disposal and associated recycling services. The company was established in 2000 and has operations in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, offering a national service for the collection, management, disposal and recycling of end-of-life IT assets.

Greenbox is an Australian-owned company which provides its customers with Environmentally Certified (ISO14001) and Quality Certified (ISO9001) services that are repeatable, scaleable, consistent and auditable, and use efficient, best-in-class technology and systems.