Refurbished PC Lifecycle
The lifecycle of the refurbished PC begins when a business, government agency, or individual chooses to retire a computer. Although companies and individuals spend a lot of time deciding what computers to buy and how to deploy them, less thought is given to how to dispose of them. Yet deciding what to do with used computers is not a simple task. Many organizations and individuals have concerns about misuse of confidential data if it is not properly removed from their machines. They are also concerned about the environmental consequences of PCs that are improperly disposed of, not to mention the potential embarrassment and legal liability. Many are also interested in getting the best value from the disposal of their assets.
The refurbished PC ecosystem varies considerably by country and by region, but generally participants fall into four key areas: 1) individual suppliers or donors, 2) a range of PC refurbisher establishments, 3) brokers, retailers, or vendors selling secondary and refurbished PCs, and 4) the end users of the refurbished PCs who may be individuals, small businesses, educational institutions, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or other underserved populations.
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Organizational or Individual Used PC Owners
When you are ready to retire a computer, there are several options to consider including storing used PCs, taking them to a recycler, or throwing them out. A more viable option is to sell the used computers to a broker. There are hundreds of such brokers around the world who deal in everything from relatively new computers to hardware that is no longer useful. Newer surplus computers— anything newer than five years old and in good working condition—can typically be productively reused. However, maybe the best choice for dealing with surplus computers may be to donate or sell them to a refurbisher. PC donors are also increasingly responding to legislation that governs e-waste disposal and promotes recycling and reuse. |
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PC Brokers
A broker can take on two different roles within the PC ecosystem. They purchase secondary PCs from organizations and sell them to refurbishers who in turn sell to end users. Alternatively, they may broker the refurbished PCs between refurbishers or from refurbishers to end users.
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PC Refurbishers
The next step in the lifecycle of the computer that was donated or sold to a refurbisher is the process of the PC refurbishment. PC refurbishers range in size from sole proprietors to large refurbishment companies, and many can handle every step needed to prepare a computer for its second life. Refurbishers typically make minor repairs and cosmetic improvements to the PCs they acquire. Proper refurbishment also includes wiping the computer's hard drive of all data from the previous owner and installing a genuine operating system. Refurbishers that are part of Microsoft PC refurbishment programs are required to comply with a set of responsible practices, including the use of genuine software.
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End Users
The refurbished PCs are then sold by the refurbishers either in bulk to PC brokers or directly to end users. Some businesses and non-profits refurbish used computers they have acquired for use in their own organization. In some situations, governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) sponsor and facilitate the distribution of refurbished PCs, by acting as an intermediary between the PC refurbishers and the end-users.The recipients and buyers of refurbished PCs typically include low-income families, schools, non-profits, technology access programs, NGOs, and small businesses. |
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Recyclers
Many countries have laws that strictly govern the way in which PCs are disposed. The European Union is leading the way with its Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. State and provincial governments, from California in the United States to Maharashtra in India and Saskatchewan in Canada, are also addressing the growing problem of e-waste through legislation.
Before sending end-of-life computers to a recycler, make sure it follows responsible procedures. Best practice recyclers like Veolia Environment will separate electronic waste into as many as 11 different categories for recycling. Monitors, batteries and shredded circuit boards are sent to special facilities for separate recycling processes. Some recyclers will provide full audit of the recycling, including an account of the materials that were recovered.
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