news I.T.

The major concern faced by our customers when disposing of their redundant IT equipment is the removal of all data contained within any item. Data falling into the wrong environment is bad news for everyone. Companies have been prosecuted under the recently updated 1998 Data Protection Act.

The 1998 Data Protection Act makes it a legal requirement to adopt appropriate security measures to prevent unauthorised access, alteration or accidental loss or destruction of personal data. Under the 1998 Data Protection Act, failure to remove personal data from a computer's hard drive may result in Crown Court prosecution and unlimited fines, to include personal compensation claims.

For further clarification, we suggest you visit the official government web site
www.dat protection.gov.uk

Use the link for data disposal content and latest news regarding the WEEE directive.
Environment Agency WEEE directive

RoHS delivers and manages from the WEEE Directive and sets out to restrict the use of hazardous substances and contributes to the environment and disposal of WEEE. The RoHS Directive became European law on 16th July 2005.

Objectives of the RoHS Directive

It is recognized that the WEEE Directive cannot prevent all EEE from entering landfill. The role of RoHS is to reduce harmful substances at source, ensuring that these hazardous substances are not leached into the environment by EEE items, which inevitably fails to be recycled.

Who does it affect?

The RoHS Directive affects everyone involved in manufacturing, selling, distributing, recycling or treating electrical and electronic equipment.

What stage are we at with the RoHS Directive?

RoHS Directive coupled with the UK RoHS regulations came into force on 1 July 2006.

What is the Hazardous Waste Regulation?

The Hazardous Waste Regulation 2005 replaces the Special Waste Regulation 1996. The new legislation now incorporates additional forms of waste previously not classified as hazardous e.g. Computer monitors, VDU's and other electrical equipment, etc.
The purpose of the Hazardous Waste Regulation is to provide an effective process of control for these wastes and to ensure that they are carefully managed from their point of production to their final end of life cycle for disposal or recovery.

Objectives of the Hazardous Waste Regulation

The objectives for Hazardous Waste Regulation include:

• Implementation of the provisions of the Hazardous Waste Directive;
• Maintenance of the controls imposed by the previous regulations;
• Achievement of a cradle to grave audit trail;
• Deterring illegal disposal of hazardous waste;
• Ensuring records are kept of the disposal of hazardous waste at landfill.

Who does it affect?

All businesses that dispose of more than 200kg of hazardous waste per annum are affected. In simple terms if your company disposes of 10 or more CRT monitors per annum, then you are affected. Companies have to register each individual location that disposes of more than 200kg of hazardous waste with the Environmental Agency.
As part of the registration process you will be allocated a SIC and location code specific to your type of business, which you must produce when passing to a waste carrier.

What stage are we at with the Hazardous Waste Regulation?

The Hazardous Waste Regulation became UK law on 16th July 2005.

What do I need to do?

You need to register each of your company sites that will retire redundant IT equipment with the environment agency. Registration costs £18.00 per site and you can register with the Environment Agency.

Alternatively Secure Data I.T. can do this for you for £38 + VAT.