IT Asset Redeployment vs. Recycling: Which Option Is Better for Your Organization?

When your IT assets are no longer necessary or stop working, you are often faced with the option of recycling or redeploying them. On average, computers replace desktops every three to five years. Laptops are often replaced every three or four years. Servers usually get replaced every three to five years and upgraded every five to seven years. 

You also have printers that are replaced every three to seven years. Monitors are often replaced every five or six years. Point of sale systems are usually replaced within seven years. 

If you have 20 employees, each with a desktop, mouse, keyboard, and monitor, you’re ditching hundreds of electronics each decade. What if you’re upgrading before your equipment stops working? How can you tell when it’s best to recycle vs. redeploy?

When to Choose IT Asset Redeployment

IT asset redeployment is a strategy where you take IT equipment that’s not being used from one area and move it to another. It’s a strategy designed to save money and make the most of reuse over replacement.

For example, your marketing department is using an old inkjet printer. Your mail room has a newer laser printer that’s rarely used. Instead of purchasing a new printer for marketing, you move the laser printer to the marketing department and shift the older printer to the mail room.

There are three factors to consider when deciding if IT asset redeployment is right for your organization.

Is your organization’s budget for new technology limited? If it’s going to be financially straining to replace every laptop, desktop, tablet, etc. in your company, you save money with IT asset redeployment. Replace only those items that no longer work and redistribute the rest to workers that would benefit from those devices.

Are you looking to portray your company as being a leader in green initiatives? If sustainability is important, redeployment of your tech proves you mean what you say. You keep electronics from the landfill by making sure they get the most use. If they’re slower, you can often upgrade components to make them fit your company’s needs better.

IT asset disposal is estimated to see increases of around 11.4% between 2025 and 2030. Computers and laptops account for about half of this market. With the continual growth, it’s important to take steps to use these items as long as possible. If people continue to dispose of electronic devices every three years, the risk of running out of raw materials needed to make new items is too great.

Workers benefit from IT asset redeployment, too. If a laptop isn’t working well, it slows a worker down. Waiting for a new one to arrive could take a week or more. Taking a laptop from a department where it doesn’t get used and giving that to the worker is immediate; there’s no wait.

Another reason the reuse of laptops, computers, and tablets is ideal is because of familiarity. Instead of having to learn new software or file organization, your worker’s laptop is already set up in a familiar way. It saves time and eases frustration.

A lot of the factory restores, upgrades, and software updates that take place before IT asset redeployment are done by your IT team. Make sure you have staff available to complete these steps. If they’re already short on time, it could be frustrating for them to fit in a major undertaking of this nature.

When to Choose IT Asset Recycling

IT asset recycling is a process where old or unneeded electronics are sent to a facility to be recycled correctly. Items are taken apart, broken down, and sent to recycling streams like glass, metal, and plastic.

When should your organization consider IT asset recycling instead of IT asset redeployment? Here are the three reasons.

Many organizations are bound by federal or state laws regarding data privacy and how sensitive data is handled. If your organization handles customer payment methods, medical records, bank account information, SSNs, etc., you must follow legal compliance when you’re no longer in need of old technology.

You cannot just sell or give away old laptops, printers, desktops, etc. You’re responsible for ensuring the data is destroyed. IT asset recycling is a process where a certified vendor recycles the electronics, and you choose the level of data destruction that takes place. You have proof that you followed the laws and had data destroyed as a first step in the recycling process.

Many electronics contain rare earth metals that can be reused to prevent having to mine for new materials. That’s one reason that recycling electronics shows you are ethically responsible. Heavy metals is another reason. Older computer equipment, TVs, and monitors often have dangerous heavy metals like:

• Cadmium – Circuit boards, computer batteries, and switches
• Lead – Cathode ray tubes 
• Mercury – Old thermometers and thermostats, LCD screens, cell phones, etc.

IT asset recycling ensures that nothing hazardous ends up in a landfill. Items like lithium batteries, lead, mercury, etc., are processed by trained professionals to ensure they do not cause harm to the environment, workers, or people in the community.

Your organization’s IT team can help manage the shipments of old electronics to a certified vendor for data destruction and recycling. That’s the only responsibility they have, so it frees up a lot of time for them. 

When a Hybrid Approach Is Better

A hybrid approach provides the best of both worlds. Instead of recycling all the IT assets in your organization, you pick and choose what has no value and what you can redeploy to another department. 

Suppose you have 20 workers, but five are part-time. Everyone got new laptops three years ago. Some of those laptops are only used a few days a week. They’re still in good shape. You could save those for reuse and reduce the number of new laptops you need to purchase. 

ITAD services are never one-size-fits-all. Reach ERI to discuss your organization’s needs and find out the best way to recycle electronics. We’ll help you decide when to recycle and when your technology is better put to new use in another department.

For a hybrid approach to work, you need a full list of your IT assets. Regularly inspect everything for signs of wear or broken components. When it’s time to recycle some of your IT assets, work with a certified ITAD vendor to ensure electronics are recycled correctly.

Another reason to work with an ITAD vendor is that you could get money for any valuable components. When there are parts that can be used to refurbish other electronics, you could get some money to put towards your new equipment.

The Best Practices for Choosing an ITAD Vendor

Once you know whether you want to recycle unwanted office electronics or choose a hybrid option, you need a qualified ITAD vendor. Ask these questions when narrowing your choices.

• Are you certified by e-Stewards, NAID AAA, and R2? Do you hold other certifications?
• Do you follow NIST SP 800-88 standards? Will you give me a Certificate of Destruction when the process ends?
• If something goes wrong, does the ITAD provider have insurance?
• Will I have real-time updates on the chain of custody for all electronics being recycled?

Reach out to ERI to learn more about our ITAD options and processes. We are fully certified and offer NIST SP 800-88 standards or higher levels if you’re a government or military organization.