Businesses and organizations of all sizes often ask us how we handle the copiers that they send to us. In most cases, they’re concerned about sustainability and the disposal of their assets while they refresh to new technology platforms. First and foremost, they want to ensure that their critical data is secure and safe. But at the same time, they also want to know their copier will get repurposed or recycled in an environmentally-friendly method. In our society, it’s just not acceptable to scrap valuable resources and cart them off to garbage landfills. For these and other reasons, Impact Technology always includes end-of-term asset disposition as part of our project management for clients. We cover in detail how their data will be cleansed from the copier and how we will repurpose the copier. In each instance the copier will either be recycled for parts or resold to a new business. By extending the life-cycle of copiers we are following the Green Initiative belief that we should leave Mother Earth a better place for future generations.

New copier manufacturers are doing their part by creating and following the Green Initiative movement as well. New copiers are designed to follow the Green Star Initiative–  running more efficiently and using less electricity. The new breed of multi-functional printers can copy, fax, print and scan all within a single device– using less than half the required energy resources required to handle more dynamic business solutions. The copier industry also encourages reusable supplies such as printer toner. In addition to this, businesses are now digitally archiving documents rather than following the traditional method of “print & file”, thus saving our trees and sending less waste to landfills.

Below are some common terms and definitions that are used when we discuss end-of-life recycling options with our business partners:

  • Reverse Logistics: When you first purchase a device it gets shipped to you– this is called forward logistics. When a technology asset has finished its life cycle we send the asset “back” using reverse logistics. Transporting copiers can be very expensive, upwards of $400 per machine. On large projects Impact Technology can get that cost down to under $100 and in most cases use the sale proceeds to cover related fees.
  • Asset Disposition: Regardless of whether a copier is leased or purchased, most are amortized over 36 or 48 months. At which time the old copier is “disposed of” and a new one is purchased to replace it.
  • DOD data cleanse: Department of Defense (DOD) and HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) are two organizational standards that require a minimum of 3+ formats on digital drives.
    Impact Technology provides this data cleanse process for a fee and in most cases can use the sale proceeds, so there is no cost incurred by the business partner.