What happens if I don’t recycle my business’ redundant IT equipment properly?

Waste Electrical or Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is a growing problem and major environmental concern, as more and more electronics become integral in our everyday lives. There is a growing throwaway culture, as often, many people are not aware of the proper disposal process or the dangers of throwing away IT equipment. 

This is a growing concern for businesses as they often have a large volume of e-waste, therefore, it’s important to understand the proper processes. The same is true for many products with batteries – once the battery life reduces, the whole item is replaced rather than just the battery.  

Around 9kg of e-waste per capita is created in the UK annually, with only 31.2% of this being recycled. Of this figure, businesses are responsible for a large amount of WEEE that ends up in landfills. In the UK, organisations purchase close to half a million electricals, including phones, IT, and appliances, every year, demonstrating the need to manage these devices securely, safely, and responsibly.  

 It is vital that businesses understand the importance of disposing of their e-waste properly, so as not to contribute to this growing issue. In this blog, we discuss what could happen if you do not recycle your business’s redundant IT equipment properly. Here are five dangers to be aware of… 

The global WEEE market is evolving with regulatory changes pushing forward the circular economy agenda. In the European Union, more producers are taking responsibility and increasing product recyclability at the end of life to avoid financial implications, under mandates such as the WEEE Directive and the RoHS Directive. 

In January 2025, the UK government published its response to a consultation on reforming the producer responsibility system for WEEE. This included introducing new obligations for online marketplaces with WEEE in relation to their overseas sellers. 

The government is committed to driving a circular economy across the UK, urging businesses to prepare as dedicated steps are being established. With England set to publish its own circular economy strategy later this year, businesses should be aware of how they can strengthen their operations and contribute to a closed-loop supply chain by taking WEEE seriously. 

WEEE waste often contains personal data, and this is especially the case for businesses. Computers, laptops and hard drives can all contain highly sensitive data, which, if not disposed of correctly and recycled, could fall into the wrong hands and cause a major data breach, as seen in recent times by some large organisations in the UK, such as the M&S IT system cyberattack. Not only does this pose a threat to brand reputation, but it also means that your current and any prospective clients may lose trust in your business.  

Furthermore, if the data breach contains personal data of a third party, your business could be fined under GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) laws. S2S is here to help guide you and implement safe and secure hard drive recycling into your business operations

E-waste contains dangerously high levels of toxic chemicals and must be disposed of and recycled correctly. Lead and mercury can be found in glass computer screens and batteries, which can cause severe injuries and explosions if not dealt with properly. By not recycling these precious metals, materials such as cadmium, PVC and arsenic are exposed. Therefore, those disposing of the equipment and the general public are at risk of developing severe health complications like breathing issues, skin irritation and irregular heartbeats. 

Through improper disposal, e-waste typically ends up in landfills where these toxic chemicals can seep into the ground, poison the air and contaminate water sources. It is vital that your business seeks to recycle its e-waste or consider reuse, to reduce your carbon footprint and work with other businesses to protect our ecosystems. 

Electronics contain trace amounts of precious materials, including gold, platinum, silver, copper, and aluminium. When electrical waste is disposed of incorrectly, these materials are gone forever. By ensuring your e-waste is recycled, these elements can be salvaged and reused. This reduces the need to source new raw materials and eliminates the energy required to extract them. 

If we continue to waste these materials and consistently mine for more to replace them, then ultimately the supply of the materials needed to make the IT equipment will diminish. This will make these products much more expensive to purchase, due to their rise in production costs and time; therefore, investing in correct e-waste disposal and recycling is far more beneficial for your business and the wider economy.  

Responsible recycling and reuse of business IT equipment promotes the concept of a sustainable, circular economy, whereby we view our waste as a resource to the recycled in every way possible.  

Businesses have been expected to pave the way towards environmental sustainability due to their significant contribution towards polluting the environment through waste, gas emissions and plastics generated. If business e-waste isn’t correctly disposed of, then businesses risk missing out on the benefits brought by adhering to their environmental responsibilities. 

By getting ahead and learning how to dispose of your electronic waste properly, your business could experience cost savings by reselling some redundant equipment. Your business could also gain a competitive edge by improving your brand reputation and future-proofing your business against any upcoming environmental regulations.

By taking responsibility for unused IT assets, engaging a proper disposal process, and using a trusted ITAD like S2S Group, businesses can rest assured that they’re joining the cause to help save the environment, alongside many other environmentally conscious organisations.

S2S Group is here to help your business find the right solution to your e-waste. Redundant business IT equipment can often build up and become a burden, so we’re here to take this off your hands and ensure that all items are disposed of sustainably and efficiently.  

One of our recent clients, an insurance brokerage firm, came to us requiring data sanitisation and secure IT asset disposal. We worked closely with the team on site to deliver an efficient, seamless service, whilst always prioritising data security.