I'm running a managed service provider with about 400 managed seats and another 1500 unmanaged ones. We end up generating a lot of e-waste, like old computers, flash drives, CDs, tapes, and phones. Right now, if we need a certificate of destruction, we have to send each item to a local IT asset disposition (ITAD) company and pay for every single item. I'm considering a new idea: what if we had a box where we could throw in any e-waste? It would get inventoried, destroyed, and recycled on a monthly basis. You could add all sorts of electronic waste like CDs and batteries, and at the end of the month, you'd receive a detailed inventory list. Think of it like those paper shredding boxes, but for electronics. Would you be willing to pay for a service like this?
6 Answers
But why pay for a service like this when there are free options available? A lot of places already take e-waste for no charge, plus they give out certificates of destruction. We have a solid process in place ourselves.
I wish I had a place nearby to take e-waste. I'd pay about $50 a month to drop off stuff without a hassle—but I definitely need those SSDs destroyed. Just getting a receipt wouldn't cut it for peace of mind.
I wouldn’t need this monthly, but perhaps a yearly service could work for me. We just stack our e-waste until we find a certified recycler, which is always a pain. If it was easier, I might pay for it!
Right? I'd prefer to drop everything off and not have to deal with logistics. If it were affordable, I might consider a subscription-type service.
I think this could be convenient. Some paper shredding companies offer similar services, but they usually require you to pull the hard drives first. Your idea sounds like it would let people just dump everything in and get it handled without stress.
Right! The difference is really that paper companies generally don't take everything e-waste. Your box idea would cover all bases, making it easy for people.
Love this idea! Most MSPs I've seen struggle with e-waste logistics. If you can automate that certificate of destruction part, you've definitely got a solid business concept here.
Honestly, I wouldn't pay for this. There's a non-profit around me that does e-waste recycling for free, and they provide a certificate of destruction as well. Plus, it helps a good cause since the recycled devices often go to charities. It's a win-win!
Does that non-profit have proper certifications? I would be concerned about trusting them with sensitive data. You never know if they might mishandle information.
That’s great! In California, they have state subsidies that help e-waste companies cover collection costs, so it could be lucrative. Do you know if there's anything like that elsewhere?
Exactly! We do all the inventory ourselves and have a company pick everything up monthly with certificates included. That way, we're sure everything is handled correctly.