Electronic Equipment Management Strategy

Conducting a workplace assessment for electronics equipment management
  • Survey the electronic equipment that your business uses--if you have an equipment change-out planned, include that in your estimate
  • Selecting a contractor 
  • Explore your recycling options and resources available for businesses
  • Educate your maintenance and technical staff about how to implement the management strategy
  • Inform them of the importance of recovering electronics
  • Coordinate storage, packaging, and shipping logistics with appropriate staff (building engineers, information technology or audio-visual specialists, maintenance workers, custodial staff, etc.)
  • Kick-off the management program with an informational meeting with participants to recruit their support
  • Periodically review the program to evaluate its effectiveness and to make improvements

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Safe Storage and Handling of Electronic Equipment
From the Know Toxics Universal
Waste & Used Electronics Training Manual
This and other information on safe storage and handling of lamps can be seen in the Know Toxics Universal Waste & Used Electronics Training Manual, pages 27-29.

Used electronics are not regulated as universal waste under the universal waste rule. However, the EPA and DEQ recommend proper recycling of used electronics, especially since many of these items, such as laptop computers, contain rechargeable batteries, which are universal waste.

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A handler of used electronics should manage used electronics in a way that prevents releases to the environment.
  • Store electronics in a room with four walls, a ceiling and a roof, or in the cargo portion of a truck. Basically, anywhere that will prevent leakage or release to the environment.
  • Items in the storage area should be properly labeled.
  • Immediately clean up any spills or broken items and place materials in a container for proper disposal.

If businesses have computers or other used electronic devices to recycle, several firms and organizations have been identified as serving the computer and electronic recycling needs Virginia. A complete list can be found on the VA DEQ website for Computer and Electronics Recycling.*

Companies, governments, manufacturers, and individual purchasers are responsible for properly recycling their discarded materials in a safe and environmentally sound manner. In the absence of federal and state oversight, a company may want to consider a recycler that participates in an independent certification program to reduce their liability.

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Additional Resources








*External link. The Northern Virginia Regional Commission does not author third party sites and their reference is for educational purposes only.