The data centre industry is one of the largest producers of e-waste in the world. This is because data centres house large amounts of electronics ranging from computer systems, telecommunications and storage systems, as well as other electronic components. These centres therefore have a responsibility to lead the way when it comes to proper e-waste disposal in Singapore by adopting sustainable e-waste disposal practices. What are some ways the industry can go about achieving that?

Address IT Waste Concerns & Issues

For sustainable e-recycling in Singapore to occur in the data centre industry, these centres must first acknowledge that e-waste cannot end up in landfill sites without developing complications. Many kinds of electronics and components contain pollutants and materials that are harmful to the environment and society in general, with the potential to leak into water systems and food chains.

The second area concern pertains to security, as improperly disposed electronic devices can be retrieved by data thieves who will be able to extract sensitive information from these data centres, such as credit card details, bank details, and personal information like address and email.

Establish IT Asset Disposal Partners

Many data centres opt to outsource e-waste management in Singapore by working with approved IT asset disposal partners. These partners are typically called upon to dispose of any form of electrical or electronic waste through their removal and recycling services. They’re also required to offer a complete service that complies with national legislation and regulations, working with experts to utilise licensed recycling centres and providing a traceable and documented journey for the safe removal and disposal of e-waste. Additionally, disposal partners are also responsible for estimating the amount of materials that can be recovered from an e-waste project.

Initiate E-waste Project Management

When it comes to e-waste disposal in Singapore, the first thing an organisation would do upon contacting an e-waste recycling company is to assess the amount of e-waste that will be removed and disposed of. These companies are responsible for the removal process that covers labour and logistics as they transport e-waste from data centres back to their recycling facilities, with the whole process documented. While some of these materials could recover a rebate sum, they are often not enough to cover the entire removal and transportation costs.

As data centres often contain complex electronics, the removal project will require a site survey in those instances. The devices must be disconnected and made safe to move to the designated point of collection; if they’re too large, they’ll also need to be dismantled beforehand. These include server racks, air conditioners, uninterruptible power supplies, and network and cabling.

Design and Build with Sustainability in Mind

Good e-waste management in Singapore at a data centre starts with a sustainability-oriented mindset. From individual parts, to servers and racks, and even to the entire data centre itself, consider how to reduce the wastefulness of each element. One example is to select components with longer lifespans and are easier to process at their natural end-of-life cycle.

Using recycled materials and utilising easy-to-repair equipment can also help decrease the environmental toll. This also has the added bonus of decreasing the frequency of which data centres need to discard hazardous electrical or electronic goods.

Here at Metalo, we provide a wide range of e-waste disposal services for various businesses, including data centres, working closely with them to ensure that sensitive equipment is thoroughly destroyed and properly disposed of. For more information about our e-waste services, please visit our website.