Hey everyone! Our company is finally gearing up for a major data center refresh and I'm currently overwhelmed with figuring out how to properly dispose of a bunch of retired equipment. We've got about 200 servers, switches, and storage arrays that need to be dealt with, not to mention the drives that need secure data destruction.
I've been researching various ITAD companies, but their marketing materials don't tell me much about the actual processes. In the past, we tried handling disposal in-house and it turned into a huge headache that lasted for months. We faced delays with pickups, slow data wiping, and ended up storing old equipment in a room due to unreliable recyclers not having proper licensing. Our compliance team is insisting on R2v3 certification after some recent audit findings.
I'm looking for suggestions on ITAD providers that:
A. Show up when they say they will.
B. Handle proper enterprise-grade data destruction with certification.
C. Can compensate us for any gear that still holds value.
It's a plus if they have strong green credentials since we're aiming to boost our sustainability efforts. Budget isn't a major concern, as we'd prefer to pay a bit more for reliable service that meets compliance and security needs. I would love to hear any real experiences you might have had with ITAD companies! Thanks!
4 Answers
I had a similar situation this past March when we decommissioned our old colo facility. After vetting several ITAD providers, I found Alta Technologies to be the best. They got back to me fast with a pricing list and their understanding of hardware was impressive. They’re R2v3 certified and focus on testing, refurbishing, and resale, which seemed like the right balance of professionalism and sustainability. We also used Iron Mountain for a few servers; their process was thorough with solid destruction certification, but they do move really slowly. If timing is critical, you might want to consider that. A buddy of mine also recommended TechBuyer, who he found to be more responsive and they paid decent money for some of their newer gear.
We’ve had a great experience with PCdisposal.com. They simplify the process and give detailed reports on what happens with each piece of equipment. They’re NAID certified, which I personally feel is better for data security, and while they don't pay upfront for equipment, they do share profits on resale, which is nice. Just be aware that some old gear might not have any resale value by the time you're ready to let it go.
I work for a certified ITAD company (R2v3, ISO 14001, 9001, and 45001). We handle device audits, data erasure, and have a hardware buyback program. If you need help, we provide pickups and can recycle your equipment properly! Check us out at SouthEast Computer Recyclers (SECR).
I’ve worked with Alta Technologies for our ITAD projects and they were fantastic! Definitely ask for Steve. During our site tours of the final candidates, Alta stood out with a clean and organized refurbishment center. They provided us with data wipe certificates, managed logistics smoothly, and actually pay us a fair amount for equipment they refurbish. I highly recommend scheduling a site tour, even just over Zoom, to really see their operation.
Thanks for the tip! I’m definitely adding them to our list to check out.
Thanks for the rec, will look into them!