CHAPTER 1

Overview and Issues

1.1. Introduction:
Computers are everywhere, but their use harms the environment.
➢ Widespread Computer Use: Computers like desktops, laptops, and phones are
everywhere.
➢ Environmental Impact: They use power and batteries, harming the
environment.
➢ Tech Upgrades Lead to Disposal: When new tech comes, old devices get
tossed.
➢ Disposal Challenges: Dumping these devices is hard because of metals and
harmful chemicals inside.
➢ Energy Use Concerns: They consume lots of energy, especially for cooling
servers.
➢ Other Problems Exist: Besides these, there are more issues with these devices.
Green Computing aims to fix this using "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" principles.

1.2. Green Computing:

➢ Green Computing is about making computers and gadgets more eco-friendly
by using less energy, using safer materials, and recycling old devices to reduce
harm to the environment.
➢ The study uses science to create technologies that help to preserve natural
resources and reduce the harmful impact on the environment.
 ➢ The goal of green computing very clear and simple: reduction in the use of
harmful materials, maximizes energy efficiency, and promotes recyclability.
➢ Green computing is commonly referred to as Green IT.
➢ The idea is to ensure the least human impact on the environment.
➢ Apart from this, it aims to achieve environmental sustainability.

Following are pathways of green IT that focus on various activities such as:
1. Power Management: Saving electricity with power-saving features in devices.
Devices that automatically dim their screens to save battery, like smartphones or
laptops.
2. Energy-Efficient Computing: Preventing energy waste in devices to fight climate
change. Computers using energy-efficient processors, like those found in some modern
laptops.
3. Environmental Pollution Cleanup: Removing contaminants from water, soil, and
air. Filters in factories that remove harmful chemicals from smoke before releasing it
into the air.
4. Server Virtualization: Using one server for multiple computers. One powerful
computer serving as a central hub for multiple smaller computers in an office.
5. Sewage Treatment: Cleaning toxins from wastewater. Treatment plants that clean
wastewater before releasing it back into rivers.
6. Efficient Waste Management: Collecting, recycling, and disposing of waste.
Recycling bins in neighborhoods that collect paper, plastic, and glass for reuse.
7. Effective Recycling: Reusing products instead of landfilling. Using old smartphone
parts to build new ones instead of throwing them away.
8. Regulatory Compliance: Government rules to control waste and pollution. Laws
that limit the amount of emissions a factory can release into the air or water.
9. Water Purification: Removing unnecessary materials from water. Systems that
filter and purify drinking water to remove impurities.
10. Green Measurement: Measuring environmental performance. Tools that track a
company's carbon footprint to reduce environmental impact.
11. Renewable Energy: Using sources like solar and wind power. Solar panels on
rooftops generating electricity for homes.
12. Eco-Friendly Product Labels: Designing products to be eco-friendly. Electronics
marked with an eco-label to show they're made with recyclable materials.
13. Thin Client Solutions: Computers relying on a central server to work. Offices
using a central server to store all data, accessed by smaller, simpler computers at
employees' desks.

1.3. Problems
➢ Data centers store and manage vital data for companies, but they can consume
a lot of energy and impact the environment.
➢ Managers are keen on green computing, even though initial costs might be
higher.
➢ The idea is that these eco-friendly practices will eventually save money in the
long run while also benefiting the environment.
➢ Small adjustments today can result in substantial savings later on.

1.3.1 Toxins:
➢ As mentioned earlier, an Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing components.
➢ When these electronics break down, they release mercury and other toxins.
➢ Throwing away E-waste wrong hurts the environment—it's got harmful stuff
inside.
➢ Toxic substances can include:
 o Lead: In circuit board solder and older monitor glass.
o Mercury: In some switches and flat-screen monitors.
o Cadmium: In rechargeable batteries for laptops and portables.
o Brominated flame retardants (BFRs): Flame retardants in computer plastics.
o Polyvinyl Chloride(PVC): In cables and plastics, releases toxins when
burned.

➢ The bad effects of these toxins can be observed on soil, plants, micro-organisms
and animals.
➢ To avoid effects of these toxins, E-waste is handled separately from
conventional garbage and recycling processes.
➢ Maximum of E-waste material is reused, renovated and redeployed. So very
less amount of toxins are going into soil.
➢ As we can observe computer is almost house of toxic components.
➢ These toxins are one the reason behind global warming, so we have to take the
disposal of these elements in serious manner to secure our future.

1.3.2 Electronic Waste:

➢ E-Waste is a big problem.
➢ Lots of discarded electronics end up in junkyards worldwide, harming the
environment.

1.3.3 Limited Resources:

➢ We need to use resources wisely when making electronics to protect the
environment.
➢ Green solutions, like using cloud technology, help save these scarce resources.
1.3.4 Power/Energy Consumption:
➢ Running our devices costs a lot of money and harms the environment.
➢ Heat from devices leads to higher energy consumption for cooling.
➢ More devices + inefficiency = more heat, more cooling electricity.
➢ Producing electricity for electronics often relies on fossil fuels (Fossil fuels:
Coal, oil, gas- Old resources used for energy, but they create pollution.),
creating more greenhouse gases.
Solutions:
There are solutions to avoid fossil fuel based sources of electricity and to save:
• Virtualization:
➢ Special software allows running multiple servers on one machine, reducing
power usage.
➢ The Virtualization works on single machine instead of several servers.
➢ A special kinds of Software’s are used in virtualization to run multiple
servers on one physical machine, which causes less consumption of power
consumed.
• Generate your own power:
➢ Switching to solar, wind, or biogas helps save money on bills and move
towards carbon neutrality.
➢ The problem can only be solved by moving to other clean and green options.
➢ Solar energy, bio gas and wind energy are great motivators towards that.
➢ By using these options we can save money on electrical bill as well as make
a move toward carbon neutrality.
➢ Also, in case of more power generated, we can sell it to other, so on other
hand we can also earn the money.
1.3.5 Equipment Disposal:
If the waste electronic materials dismantled properly then many of the parts of that can
be reused and if not then may cause problem to environment.

The Business of Recycling

➢ The process of recycling e-waste material is very complicated.
➢ First, the metals and plastics must be separated, and then the circuit boards are
shredded to separate the aluminum, iron, and copper from the valuable precious
metals, such as silver.
➢ If not handled properly, uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal are
causing environmental and health problems, including health effects among
those who extract precious materials.

The Recycling Process

E-waste processing generally involves first dismantling the equipment into these
different components:
• Metal frames
• Power supplies
• Circuit boards
• Plastics

Doing It Right
There is not exact procedure is followed for handling e-waste, but many countries doing
it far better way. It is needed to have some standard procedure for it, but due to
variations in material used in components and also because difference in laws about
environment, it difficult to opt for standard procedure. There is always scope for
improvement in using the methods to handle E-waste.
The European Union: Europe is doing fantastic job in case of e-waste handling. In the
1990s, some European countries banned the disposal of e-waste to landfills. As a result
a new industry is formed for E-waste processing.

The United States: The United States is one the top country for consumption of many
things such as energy. However, not so fast in case of handling e-waste.

1.4. Your Company’s Carbon Footprint

A carbon footprint is defined as: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to
directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons
of carbon dioxide (CO2). In few organizations, carbon footprint might mean that
everything is tallied—sourcing materials, manufacturing, distribution, use, disposal,
and so forth.
In other words: When we drive a car, the engine burns fuel which creates a certain
amount of CO2, depending on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. (CO2 is
the chemical symbol for carbon dioxide). When we heat our house with oil, gas or coal,
then we also generate CO2. Even if we heat our house with electricity, the generation
of the electrical power may also have emitted a certain amount of CO2. When we buy
food and goods, the production of the food and goods also emitted some quantities of
CO2.
For measuring carbon footprint we require to track lot of information such as :
• Facilities
• Operations
• Transportation
• Travel
• Purchases
The carbon foot printing is done by many organizations/ companies to achieve
environmental friendliness.

1.4.1 Measuring
Measuring of carbon footprint is time consuming job. Following steps can be used for
it.

Step 1. Define the boundary for your carbon footprint

We need to monitor the carbon footprint process year by year, so it is very important
to have some rules to follow about scope of work to be done. Our primary objective is
to reduce the emission of carbon.
There are three types of boundaries:

Type 1: Operational control: Using this approach every operation of our

organization/company is captured in the carbon footprint. This also includes supply
chain if an organization has sufficient operational control over suppliers.

Type 2: Financial control: In this approach all financial elements are included. Often
this excludes elements which our company may operate but not financially control and
therefore using this approach can result in a smaller carbon footprint.

Type 3: Equity control: This approach includes all elements that our company owns.
If our company has part ownership then the proportion ownership is used to calculate
the relevant carbon footprint attributable to that company.
Step 2. Decide which emissions will be included under scope: Scope refers to the
emission types captured in a carbon footprint. The scope of an organization’s carbon
footprint also breaks down into three components.

Scope 1 emissions: These are direct emissions from assets that are either owned by our
company (i.e. fleet vehicle emissions from the consumption of fuel) or emissions
produced through an on-site activity (i.e. emissions from the burning of natural gas in
a company’s boiler).

Scope 2 emissions: Scope 2 covers all indirect emissions or more specifically

emissions derived from the production of purchased electricity. Here company hasn’t
actually produced the emissions associated with electricity generation but due to the
consumption of electricity to power lights, equipment etc. we can say that our
organization is indirectly responsible for these emissions.

Scope 3 emissions: Scope 3 covers all other indirect emissions which are not as a result
of the consumption of purchased electricity. This includes a wide array of emission
sources including waste, consumables, staff commute, supply chain emissions, water
use etc.

Step 3. Define your carbon footprint period

A carbon footprint is typically measured across an annual period. When choosing our
period for measurement it is best to think of other reporting cycles which can be used
as the set time-frame.

Step 4. Use a practical approach to collect annual data

Once we have defined our boundary and the type of emissions we are going to capture,
we’ll then need to collect data on all elements that we are going to measure carbon
emissions for (i.e. electricity and gas usage, vehicle mileage, waste volume etc.)
Here are some top tips that can be used.
Tip 1: Annualize partial data: Data should be for an annual period. If we can’t get
complete annual data we will have to use what we know about a sample of data to
annualize our information.
For example, if we know that we used 1,000 liters of petrol for our company vehicles
for the first six months of our carbon footprint period then we could extrapolate that
we will use 2,000 liters over the year.

Tip 2: Use proxies where you don’t have primary data: If we don’t have primary
data (i.e. liters consumed, kWh used etc.) we will have to convert our secondary data
(miles driven, electricity spend etc.) into a primary data.

Tip 3: Use intelligent estimation: If we cannot get real data is to use estimation. Here
the best approach is to look at benchmarks or basic knowledge of our operations.
Estimation should be used as a last resort and always stated in any published result.

Step 5. Calculate footprint

After we have collected all our relevant annual data the task is then relatively simple.
You need to use a carbon footprint calculator or carbon conversion factors to calculate
our organizational carbon footprint.
There are many carbon footprint calculators on the internet that can be used for free.
1.4.2 Why Bother? (Need of carbon footprint):
Measuring carbon footprint is nothing but it another way to measure overall progress
toward becoming green. It can help with numerous business goals such as:
✓ Helping company to improve its efficiencies
✓ Reducing costs
✓ Getting public recognition
✓ Maintain link in the supply chain
✓ Good impact on customer

1.4.3 Plan for the Future

If company’s infrastructure is always expanding, even if we virtualize, our virtualized
solution will expand as well—just not as covetously as a “conventional” system. Try
to anticipate our future needs when computing our carbon footprint, and take the time
now to think about how we can minimize that growth’s impact.

1.5. Cost Savings

If properly followed Green Computing practices can save millions of rupees of an
organization. Ecologically responsible practices must be adopted. For green
computing, initial investment will be more, but eventually not only we will save money
but also help to sustain the environment.
Many organization hesitate for going green because of initial cost. Unless equipment
is planned to be replaced or there’s a datacenter design in the works, most businesses
aren’t likely to replace their equipment just for the sake of duty to society. But when
the cost of power starts taking a bigger and bigger bite out of the IT budget,
organizations start really looking at green computing nowadays.
1.5.1 Hardware
There are a number of ways that specific hardware and hardware deployments can
affect the environment. We can reduce cost for hardware is to simply buy less
equipment.

Taking the Steps, Gaining the Rewards: The Nashville’s Vanderbilt University and
the state of Oregon have begun datacenter virtualization projects and expect to save
millions of dollars by the time the projects are finished.
Vanderbilt’s Information Technology Services organization is using server
virtualization to reduce its energy use to save money and less damage to the
environment.

Use What You Have: Every time before purchasing new equipment, once again go
through our old inventory and old dump electronic elements. If we found something
that can be reused and renovated with energy efficiency, first do that.
We can take an older computer and turn it into a thin client for the processing and
storage duties are conducted at the server, as the client just needs enough power to be
able to display what is going on at the server. A thin client uses 15 watts of energy
instead of the 150 watts that workstations use on an average. If we are doing so our
energy bill will be ten times less than what it is now.

1.5.2 Power
Buying computers and then disposing of them is a one time work. But the issue of
power consumption is ongoing as we continue to use new machines. The more power
we use, the more money we spend as well as more fossil fuels the local electrical utility
has to burn, thus causing more greenhouse gases to be generated. So saving the power
is saving the money as well as saving the environment.
Desktops: The power can cab be effectively used in desktop computer by enabling
power management settings. Normally desktop PC requires 85 watts power, even with
the monitor off. If that computer is only in use or idling for 40 hours a week instead of
a full 168, much more energy costs will be saved annually from that workstation alone.

Datacenters: The increase in servers and network infrastructure has caused a sharp
hike in the electrical usage in the datacenter. Power consumption per rack has risen
from 1 kW in 2000 to 8 kW in 2006 and is expected to top 20 kW in 2010. This increase
in energy consumption is not only because of more servers but also use of additional
network infrastructure.
A normal 24-port Ethernet switch uses 250 watts of power on an average. If the
electricity generated to power this switch comes from a coal-fired plant, 1,780 pounds
of coal are needed to produce the 2,190 kW as shown in next figure.

Burning 1,780 pounds of coal releases over two tons of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere, along with other pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

Consumption: It is estimated that datacenters consume 1.5 percent of the nation’s

electrical power and this number will triple again by 2020, as number users of
computers are rapidly increasing. If we do not save power then we need more power
plants to satisfy future needs. This in turn will increase many million metric tons of
carbon dioxide per year.
The EPA (US: Environmental Protection Agency) suggested few ways for being more
energy efficient, ranging from properly organizing physical space to reduce cooling
loads to using energy-efficient power supplies.

We have to increase the use of energy efficient certified power supply. It always better
if all organizations follow Green IT methodology. We can also follow the guidelines
of EPA.

QUESTIONS
1. What is green computing? What the pathways are of green IT?
2. Explain the term toxin.
3. Explain how to avoid fossil fuel–based sources of electricity.
4. Write a note on Equipment Disposal.
5. How to define carbon footprint?
6. What are the steps involved for Measuring of carbon footprint.
7. What is Need of carbon footprint?
8. Give the tips for a practical approach to collect annual data.
9. How green computing effect on cost saving?
10. Explain the term power.
11. How hardware deployments can affect the environment?
 CHAPTER 2
Recycling, Hard Drive Recycling and Green Devices and
Hardware
Materials
The computers contain many elements with toxic materials. Here, the effective
recycling and disposal is important because we want to prevent the following
dangerous materials from getting into the environment:
1. Lead: It is used in glass in TV and PC cathode ray tubes as well as solder and
interconnects.
2. Mercury: It is used in small amounts in bulbs to backlight flat-panel computer
monitors and notebook displays.
3. Brominated flame retardants: It is used in plastic cases and cables for fire
prevention.
4. Cadmium: It was used in Ni-Cad rechargeable batteries for laptops and other
portables. However, new types of batteries (nickel-metal hydride and lithium
ion) do not contain cadmium.
5. PVC: It is used in wire and cable sheathing.
MEANS OF DISPOSAL
Generally, we don’t throw our computers in the dumpster. Different areas have
different requirements for the disposal of e-waste. Recycling is a better way to get rid
of old devices, but there are some other solutions that are also available for dealing
with old equipment.
Recycling
➢ The computer recycling includes the process of breaking down the computer to
recover metals, plastic, and glass for reuse.
➢ It is also used to avoid toxic materials from polluting the environment.
➢ This process is somewhat complex as there are almost 1000 different materials
present in a computer.
➢ The computer recycling is done usually by large companies or government
programs.
➢ They need to handle high volumes of recycling materials to make their business
profitable.
 ➢ They look for components containing precious metals, such as gold, silver, and
platinum.
➢ Also, they don’t just dump the unused material, instead they store it in a proper
way without harming the environment.
Following are the few reasons, when we should not recycle the old equipments:
❖ If we don’t have an idea about how to properly dispose off the equipment.
❖ The equipment might be used in the future.
❖ The exchange of equipment is possible.

Refurbishing (Renovate)
➢ The computer refurbishers recondition the discarded computers to get them in
working order.
➢ This is generally done by commercial refurbishers such as Dell Refurbished,
IBM Refurbished, and Amandi Services.
➢ There are also noncommercial refurbishers, which are usually nonprofits or
school programs.
➢ First, they take discarded computers, test them, extract useable parts from
computers that are not repairable, and then fix the ones that can be fixed.
➢ The process can be explained as making one working computer from two or
three discarded machines.
➢ The totally nonworking computers are sent to a recycler.
➢ The important part of refurbishing is completely cleaning the machine by
formatting all old data and installing the appropriate operating system.
➢ The cost of refurbishing a computer includes labour, parts, and e-waste disposal
also.
➢ The process is further categorized as non-commercial refurbishers and
commercial refurbishers.
Noncommercial Refurbishing:
1. Nonprofit and school-based programs refurbish computers.
2. Goal: Provide refurbished computers to low-income families.
3. Over 70% of refurbished computers go to schools.
4. Organizations like CompuMentor help low-income individuals access PCs.
 Commercial Refurbishing:
1. Old computers sold online, working or not.
2. Option for individuals to earn money.
3. Major companies like HP and IBM engage in commercial refurbishing.
The noncommercial and commercial programs are also working together for the
refurbishing process. Example: RECONNECT (www.reconnectpartnership.com) is a
partnership between Dell and Goodwill Industries. Computers can be brought into
Goodwill locations, Dell will refurbish them, and then the repurposed computers are
sold with the proceeds going to Goodwill Industries.

LIFE CYCLE
It should be very much planned about what to do with old computers well before
going to purchase new machines. Also when we purchase a new system, that time only
we can plan for what we are going to do when the system becomes old.
We need to establish a system’s life cycle as tool for Information Resource
managers to control budgets and respond to management with a business case for the
new machines, their operation, and how we will ultimately phase them out of the
organization.
From Beginning to End (From Cradle to Grave)
A product life cycle takes all parts of the computer’s life into consideration.
Following figure shows the phases of a product’s life cycle (System Development Life
Cycle).

2. Feasibility
study 3. Fact finding

1. Terms
4. Analysis

5. Design
9. Close

6. System
specification

8. Use 7. Implementation
and review
Fig. 7.2
Terms
We need to first decide the objective for the development of a new system. It
includes measuring capabilities and objectives of a new system along with standards.
For example, if we are going to replace machines then first need to check why they
need to be replaced? Because of poor performance or because of not working.
Feasibility Study
Here, we have to think about whether the concept for a new system is achievable
and realistic in terms of money, time, and the end result. By conducting this study,
sometimes we find that we may only require to update the components, no need to
replace. This will save our money as well as the machines also.
Fact Finding
The mechanism must be established, and staff must be trained about how to use
the system in proper and effective manner for its longer life service. For this we need
to have to monitor how the staff is using the systems as they might not come forward
for raising the issues about discomfort in using the system.
Analysis
At this stage, you get the chance to be a kid in a candy store. Think up your ideal
system, taking into consideration the needs identified in the “Terms” section. Don’t
limit yourself by anticipating budgetary limitations. Design your system the way you
would if you had a blank cheque.
Design
Here, we have to start building our real model. We can use whatever elements we
find from the “Analysis” section. Here, we produce a document that describes the
system, but it need not contain specific brands or models of hardware or software.
System Specification
In this phase we have to consider the general hardware and software packages.
Here, we will find out which specific products will be purchased. Here, we have to
select exact models, brands, and identify suppliers.
Implementation and Review
In this phase we have to set up the new system, train our staff to use it, and then
monitor it for initial problems. We can make any changes necessary to the system to
improve performance. Once the new system is working as per our plan, then we can
remove the components of the old system.
Use
The new system must be used for day-to-day operations. Here, we need to make
sure about maintaining and updating the system on regular basis for tuning the system
for its optimal functionality.
Close
Here, our system will be in its final resting place. We can close the system and
migrate data to a more modern system. At this stage, we decide what we will do with
our data and think about how the machines will be disposed of.

Life
The lifespan of a system is uncertain. Although we might hold onto it for years after
purchase, the reality is that its electronic components will lose effectiveness over time.
Three main factors determine the actual duration of a system's life:
1. Useful life: This is how long the equipment remains effective before wearing out to
the point where it's not practical to repair anymore.
2. Technological life: Maintenance becomes challenging as repairs may require
obsolete components that are no longer available, rendering the system
unusable.
3. Economic life: Even if the system still works, it might not be cost-effective to keep
using it due to high repair costs. Alternatively, newer systems with lower
operating costs may make it more sensible to upgrade.
A system’s life is based on economic and technological factors

Technological Life

Economics
Life
Useful Life

0 10 20 30 40 50
Months

Fig. 7.3
It is very difficult to exactly predict the lifetime of a system, but approximation
can be done using the above factors.
Cost
Total Cost Evaluation
When assessing our system's lifecycle, it's crucial to consider all expenses beyond just
the initial purchase price. Key factors include:

1. Direct Costs:
- Initial Purchase Price: Carefully determine spending limits, balancing higher
initial costs with potential operational savings.
- Energy Costs: Account for power consumption, particularly in high-performance
systems requiring additional cooling.
- Maintenance: Anticipate potential repair costs, as cheaper systems may lead to
higher maintenance expenses over time.
- Replacement: Plan for system or component replacements due to failure or
obsolescence.

2. Indirect Costs:
- Interest: Factor in interest payments on borrowed funds for the initial purchase, a
significant indirect cost.
- Administrative Costs: Include expenses related to service agreements, asset
tracking, and administrative tasks.
- Staffing: Adjust IT staff size based on system requirements, incorporating
associated salary costs.
- Downtime: Estimate productivity losses due to system downtime and plan for
regular updates and maintenance to mitigate risks.

Buy vs. Lease Decision

Leasing:
Benefits:
- Keep equipment up to date without bearing the financial burden of obsolescence.
- Predictable monthly expenses with potential for low upfront costs.
- Stay competitive by regularly upgrading equipment.
Drawbacks:
- Overall higher costs compared to purchasing.
- Obligated to pay even if equipment is no longer needed.
Buying:
Advantages:
- Simplified comparison and no need to negotiate lease terms.
- Control over maintenance schedules and tax deductibility of purchase price.
Disadvantages:
- Requires a high initial outlay impacting cash flow.
- Responsibility for disposal or repurposing of equipment.

Green Design
When designing a system, it's important to prioritize environmentally responsible
practices from the start. Here's what to keep in mind:
1. Design for Repair: Choose repairable equipment over disposable ones to minimize
waste.
2. Design for Upgradability: Build systems that can be easily upgraded instead of
replacing entire components, reducing unnecessary waste.
3. Design to Minimize Power Consumption: Opt for energy-efficient designs to save
money and reduce environmental impact.
4. Design for Recycling or Clean Disposal: Use recyclable materials and incorporate
elements that are less toxic for easier recycling or disposal.

RECYCLING COMPANIES
When picking a recycling company for electronic gear, aim for one that cares about the
environment and is trustworthy. Look for a company that:
1. Cares About the Environment: Choose a recycler that does its best to be eco-friendly.
2. Keeps Good Records: Find a company that keeps track of what they do with your
old equipment.
3. Does the Right Thing: Select a reputable company that follows ethical practices.

The EPA(Environmental Protection Agency) suggests recyclers that:

- Focus on reusing, refurbishing, and recycling.
- Take steps to reduce emissions and protect workers and nature.
- Handle hazardous components carefully.
- Ensure legitimate reuse or recycling of exported products.
- Make sure downstream facilities follow good practices.

By choosing the right recycling company, we can avoid problems for ourselves and the
environment.

Checklist
The EPA checklist for federal agencies is a valuable tool for our company. It aids in
evaluating potential recyclers, including:
1. Collectors and haulers: Entities contracted to collect old electronics.
2. Repair shops: Businesses that repair computers for resale and salvage usable
components.
3. Electronics de manufacturers: Companies that dismantle electronics for reusable
parts and scrap materials.
4. Private asset recovery operations: Specialists in maximizing returns on discarded
computer equipment, typically partnering with large-scale businesses.

Certifications
We should also consider the industry certifications of a potential recycler.
Certifications include the following:
❖ Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ (ISRI) Recycling Industry Operating
Standards (RIOS) certification
❖ International Association of Electronic Recyclers’ (IAER) certification
❖ International Organization for Standards’ (ISO) ISO 14001 certification

In India, recycling companies may aim for certifications like:

1. ISO 14001: Shows commitment to environmental management.
2. CPCB Certification: Ensures compliance with pollution control regulations.
3. BIS: Certifies product quality and safety.
4. ERAI Certification: For electronic waste recycling standards.
5. Green Industry Certification: Demonstrates commitment to sustainability.
6. Local Municipal Certifications: Needed permits from local authorities.
HARD DRIVE RECYCLING
➢ In our IT company, we prioritize security with firewalls, antivirus software, and
strong passwords.
➢ However, protecting sensitive data during computer recycling is challenging.
➢ Research shows most breaches result from user errors.
➢ Improper hard-drive decommissioning can be costly, risking data leaks and legal
repercussions.
➢ It's vital to manage data properly to avoid financial losses and protect our
reputation.

Fig. 7.4

Items are Materials are

broken down recycled
& separated

Private
information is
Electronics are destroyed Refurbished
Items are
donated refurbished items are sold or
donated for reuse

Fig. 7.5
 Hard drive recycling can have positive consequences like environmental benefits
and data security, but it also poses risks such as data breaches and environmental
pollution if not handled properly.
Following table shows potential penalties if the laws are violated.
Table 7.2
Sarbanes- Fair and Accurate Credit
Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) HIPPA
Oxley
Directors &
$1,000,000
Officers
Institution $50,000 to
$5,000,000 $11,000
$250,000
Prison 20 years 1 to 10 years

Cleaning a Hard Drive

Formatting a hard drive is not sufficient to erase data completely.
Here are simple methods:
1. Deleting: Only removes file pointers, data can still be recovered.
2. Overwriting: Writing random data multiple times removes it effectively.
3. Degaussing: Uses magnetic fields to erase data, but makes the drive unusable.
4. Mechanical Shredding: Shreds hard drives into pieces, ensuring data erasure.
5. Secure Erase: Uses specialized software to erase data securely.
Choose the method based on your needs and priorities.
Following table demonstrates the comparisons between methods.
Table 7.3
Requirement Software Degaussing Shredder Third- Secure
Solutions party Erase
Providers
Destroys data beyond No Maybe Maybe Maybe Yes
forensic recovery
Control of the process Yes Maybe No No Yes
Certification and audit No No No Yes No
trail
 Easy to install and use No No No No No
Reformat for reuse Yes No No No Yes

 CDS AND DVDS

CDs and DVDs revolutionized media storage since 1983, offering compact, durable
storage for music, movies, and data. However, their widespread use raises
environmental concerns due to recycling challenges. Despite popularity, they
contribute to significant waste, with approximately 45 tons dumped yearly in the US.
Globally, billions are sold annually, yet recycling options remain limited.
Good and Bad about CDs and DVDs Disposal
Good:
- Recycling CDs and DVDs reduces landfill waste.
- Reclaiming materials like polycarbonate and aluminum conserves resources.
- Some recycling programs accept them for free or a small fee.
Bad:
- CDs and DVDs contain harmful materials that can pollute if not disposed of
properly.
- Limited recycling options in some areas lead to landfill waste.
- Recycling process can be energy-intensive and may not recover all materials.

The phases of Hardware Lifecycle Management are as follows:

1. Plan: Determine hardware needs and develop a strategic plan.

2. Purchase or Lease: Acquire hardware through purchase or lease agreements.
 3. Deploy & Install: Install and configure hardware as per plan.
4. Maintenance: Perform regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance.
5. Upgrade: Evaluate and implement upgrades as needed.
6. Parts & Repair: Address hardware failures promptly.
7. Extend: Explore ways to prolong hardware lifespan.
8. Buyback or Trade-In: Consider selling or trading outdated hardware.
9. Dispose or Recycle: Properly dispose of hardware at end of life.

Reuse:
Refurbishing or repurposing devices for secondary use extends their lifespan and
reduces electronic waste.
Examples include donating old computers to schools or organizations, or
repurposing smartphones for other functions.
Recycle:
Recycling involves recovering valuable materials from devices to be used in
manufacturing new products.
Components like metals, plastics, and glass are separated and processed for reuse.
Dispose:
Proper disposal methods ensure that devices are disposed of responsibly,
minimizing environmental pollution.
Options include participation in electronics recycling programs or proper landfill
disposal in accordance with regulations.

 QUESTIONS
1. What are some common toxic materials found in computers?
2. Why is it important to recycle old computers?
3. What is one method of disposing of old computers?
4. Explain computer refurbishes.
5. Explain system’s life cycle with diagram.
6. Explain the phases of Hardware Lifecycle Management.
7. Give advantages and disadvantages of buying equipment.
8. Which factors are important to green design?
9. Explain Reuse, Recycle and Dispose.
10. Write a note on Green Design.