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If you are reading this, chances are you are already involved with IT asset disposal (ITAD).
E-waste is a serious environmental problem. Articles referenced here are not your run-of-the-mill stories about the environmental hazards. Rather, these stories were selected specifically because they illustrate complex problems associated with managing ITAD.
Each story illustrates one (or more) of the hidden risks of ITAD:
 Employee theft
Theft in-transit
Vendor mistake / fraud
Without an effective process, outsourcing ITAD provides you a false sense of security. The stories teach us that it is time to wake up.
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A common theme throughout these articles is how organizations are 'surprised' when their assets are discovered in a developing country. What should be shocking today is that these organizations were in fact surprised.
What is surprising is how many organizations today still lack effective management of their ITAD process.
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Copy Machines Retain Secrets on Their Hard Drives
CBS News revealed that most copy machines built since 2002 contain hard drives that store an image of documents copied, scanned or e-mailed. Their investigation also revealed how retired copiers are prime target for for hackers and identity thieves to exploit.
— CBS News
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Recycled Government Computers Found in Ghana
Obsolete government computers had been sent to recycler, then resold to another company for re-use. A spokeswoman said that they were trying to find out the name of the company, but added: “Where it goes once it’s in their hands is nothing to do with us.”
— Times Newspapers
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Reporters Find Northrop Grumman Data in African Marketplace
A team of journalists investigating the global electronic waste business bought a computer hard drive containing sensitive documents belonging to Northrop Grumman. The company had hired an outside vendor to dispose of the PC, but is not sure how the drive ended up in a Ghana market.
— PC World
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Analysis - Data Disposal Methods Found Wanting
The Cayman Islands government deserves credit for publishing a very informative analysis. A 39–page report titled 'The Appropriate Disposal of Electronic Data Storage Containers' is worth a read. It revealed exactly where how computers containing sensitive information could have easily wound up in the wrong hands. The reports findings should serve as lessons learned for any organization concerned about ITAD data security.
— Cayman Free Press
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New Jersey Employee Pleads Guilty in Computer Disposal Corruption Scheme
New Jersey state employee pleaded guilty to official misconduct for his role in a scheme in which he and co-workers stole and sold computer equipment. Officials obtained information that the employee was taking illegal payments from a recycling company in return for helping the company to secure more valuable equipment in auctions of surplus state computer equipment.
— newjerseynewsroom.com
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Florida City Rejects Recycler's Excuses
Hats off to Jacksonville! goes back to drawing board over e-waste. With no assurance Jacksonville's discarded electronics would be handled earth-friendly, the city now seeks a new recycler. The city’s lawyers want to be sure Jacksonville’s waste isn’t part of a global trade that ships electronics overseas.
— The Florida Times-Union
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