​Have you ever thought of dumping your old security cameras as a way of getting rid of them completely? Or you just made an upgrade and don’t know what to do with the old surveillance system? Well, if yes, you’re not alone, and we’re here to give you some vital tips for recycling all your security cameras while maintaining a clean environment.

Recycling of electronic gadgets not only add value to the environment but also enhances the proper circulation of resources while minimizing waste. Many think that only electronic appliances such as TV sets, radios, music systems, and hard drives are recyclable while others like security cameras aren’t. This is not true since E-waste campaigns cater to all types of electronic gadgets. That said, below is all you need to know before disposing of your security camera systems.

​Why recycle?

You could be asking yourself, what are the benefits of giving away my old camera when I can keep it safe in my store? Well, you have an idea, but it’s not good enough, both for you and those around you. Some security camera systems contain sensitive data you won’t want to find a way into the hands of hackers and other third parties. 

If you own a company, for example, and you just upgraded the security system, it means you’re no longer using the old one. The latter could have high-value footages that could compromise the level of security in the firm. Instead of attracting cyber attackers to your premises, it’s in the best interest of you and your clients to copy the data to some more secure storage before destroying the hard drives and other memory allocations. 

Sometimes the process of re-setting the hard drives is a bit complicated and this could mean some data are left un-erased. The best option here is to consult an E-waste recycling firm that will take care of the data wiping process, drive destruction and eco-friendly recycling.

​Preparing for the Ewaste recycling event 

If you live near some major US city, chances are there are sponsor events held throughout the year for recycling of electronic gadgets. Before you fill out the E-waste recycling request, you want to make sure that you’re fully prepared for it. Many times, security cameras support external storage and hence data won’t be available on the camera itself.

Before packing your camera for recycling, check to see if it has some form of storage. If yes, find a way to transfer that data to safer storage before attempting to re-set or erase it. When destroying such data proves hectic, don’t worry, just make sure you inform the E-waste recycling firm about the data. They will find a way to fix it.

Sometimes, upgrades come in a complete package; that is, security cameras come with new hard drives and storage system. Such systems are often installed as a unit and the old ones need to be removed completely. This is where you’ll need to destroy the hard drive data before recycling. 

Since it’s your own decision to recycle any electronic component, you can choose to re-sell the more valuable parts of the security system such as functioning hard drives and cables. Just make sure all data have been erased to avoid security breach and other inconveniences. 

​Data destruction process


 According to https://avarecycling.com, there are many ways of destroying a piece of equipment containing sensitive data. If you want to see the data being destroyed right-away, you’ll opt for the On-site Data/Hard-drive destruction service. The other available options are; Off-site Data destruction and Off-site hard drive destruction.

 There are also different methods in which data can be erased without necessarily punching or physically destroying the hard drives. Below are the common methods through which your hard drive can be rendered useless and hence safe for recycling.


. Degaussing    

. Punching 

. Shredding 

​The above three methods are quite effective. Let’s take a look at each one in details.


Degaussing 


This is a special data destruction process that uses the law of magnetism to completely corrupt the hard drive memory. Here, the magnetic field in the hard drive is decreased to a point where the entire memory and data stored are destroyed.


Punching 

As the name suggests, punching is a physical data destruction method that is low-cost and effective, regardless of the type of hard drive. This service will put a hole via the hard disk/ drive and won’t be used any further. Such gadgets will only be recycled for precious metals. If you’re on a budget, this option is for you.


Shredding 

This is the most preferred option among the larger companies and corporation which prefer to see that the hard drives and data have disappeared completely. Unlike the above two options, shredding is a bit costly but ensures that all your data have been destroyed with no room for data recovery. A shredder is used for this service.

​Choosing an Ewaste recycling firm

Before you can trust a given company to recycle your old security camera and storage systems, you need to do some research. As a rule of thumb, only go for those E-waste companies that have stood the test of time with a good reputation in the market.

Some of the things to consider when shopping the market for a reliable Electronics recycling firm include but not limited to;



. Licensing - a licensed E-recycling firm will not only provide the best services but will also offer a certificate of disposal as an assurance for their services.




. Flexibility- you want to choose a firm that offers up to residential pick-up services. 




. Cost-effectiveness- nothing sounds better than an assurance that your security camera systems will be recycled and all the data destroyed without incurring an extra cost.

​Conclusion 


When you can’t make up your mind on what to do with your old security cameras, turn to any of the more convenient data destruction and recycling process. This way, you’ll have a piece of mind using the new gadgets without having to worry of someone exploiting the older systems for malicious intents.






 Sources



1.  https://www.vcsolutions.com/how-to-dispose-of-old-electronics/

2.  https://www.quora.com/What-is-degaussing-and-what-are-its-effects-on-your-computers-hard-drive

3.  https://www.securis.com/degaussing-2/

4.  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/tips-and-
solutions/old-cameras

.

These chemicals are very harmful to the environment and so, it’s important that you recycle or dispose these components off in ways that aren’t detrimental to the environment. Everything from your television and your computers to your smartphones and refrigerator contain these harmful substances. You should throw these away irresponsibly or send them to landfills
as this can cause the harmful chemicals to seep out of the devices and into the soil and water.
​

Here’s a list of some items that contain hazardous components:

​
·Displays: projectors, televisions of any kind – plasma, LED, LCD, etc.

·Computers and their peripherals including mice, keyboards, flash drives, hard drives, CD's.

·Phones – landlines, smart phones, door phones.

·Cameras

·Thermostats and automation technology

·Speakers, VCR's, Blu Ray players etc.

·Devices containing cathode ray tubes (CRTs)

·Microwave ovens 

·Refrigerators

·Air conditioning units

​·Batteries of all kinds

·They shouldn’t employ child labor or prison labor like some recyclers do to save money.

·Their methods of waste management should comply with local, federal, and international legislation and conventions.

·The easiest way to ensure that your e-waste is being recycled in the most responsible way is to find an e-Stewards-certified
enterprise for your recycling needs. e-Stewards is the industry standard for recycling and is also compliant with the ISO 14001 standard. Here’s a link to finding e-Stewards-certified recyclers around you: http://e-stewards.org/find-a-recycler/
​

​·You can prepare your old devices for recycling by deleting your data and resetting them to factory settings to prevent loss of data, identity theft and other such unwelcome situations. 

·When dealing with oven recycling, unplug them beforehand to let them cool down.

·Cleaning the appliances or devices is not necessary, but welcome nonetheless.

·Most mobile devices like laptops, phones, and tablets use lithium-ion batteries and need to be packaged specially before being
transported for recycling. If your device features a removable battery, remove it beforehand.

·Check with your phone manufacturer to see if they offer a recycling program. Many manufacturers like Apple do offer this service.This is the most efficient way to deal with old phones, as the manufacturers are able to salvage parts from old phone and reuse them to make new ones.

​



  
​[1]https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/monitoring-references/faq/indicators.php


[2]https://www.giss.nasa.gov/research/news/20170118/


[3]10.1073/pnas.1717312115


[4] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/dec/14/toxic-ewaste-illegal-dumping-developing-countries