Oklahoma's IT Disposal Program: A Model of Efficiency, Security, and Environmental Stewardship

Since technology evolves rapidly, it is necessary to frequently upgrade those electronics, and care must be taken when disposing of the equipment. In addition to environmental concerns, state-owned IT equipment often contains sensitive information that must be completely erased. With no federal regulations in place, state governments need to develop their own electronics disposal programs, like mender’s partnership with the state of Oklahoma. 

“mender’s partnership with the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) began in February 2024. In just one year, OMES has seen a significant improvement in cost savings and greatly strengthened its data security,” said Kent Taggart, Co-Founder & CEO at mender, a global leader in IT asset disposition (ITAD). “The state of Oklahoma is proving that it is committed to fiscal responsibility, data security, and environmental stewardship, and our innovative partnership with OMES upholds that promise.”

Key Achievements of the OMES-mender Partnership

Since its inception in February 2024, the collaboration between mender and OMES has delivered:

• Significant Cost Savings: The ITAD program has saved the city of Oklahoma $381,000 in the first year alone. By refurbishing and reselling usable IT equipment, the state has collected value from assets that would otherwise be discarded.
• Reduced Environmental Impact: Over 700 kilograms of hazardous materials have been responsibly discarded, preventing them from entering landfills or polluting waterways. Precious metals such as gold and nickel are extracted from the outdated devices so they can be reused, which reduces the need for raw ore mining.
• Processed Volumes of Material: OMES and mender process the equivalent of two to three semi-trucks of surplus IT materials monthly, demonstrating the program’s efficiency and effectiveness.

Data Security

A critical aspect of the OMES and mender program is ensuring that no sensitive state data remains on any electronic equipment. All surplus IT devices are processed to ensure that any information is securely destroyed before the equipment is sent for recycling or refurbishment. This approach significantly lowers any cybersecurity risks.

Responsible Recycling

“mender is an R2-certified company, which stands for ‘responsible recycling,’” said Taggart. “R2 certification is a globally recognized certification for the safe and sustainable handling of electronic waste. It was developed by a committee of environmental groups, recyclers, and regulatory agencies.”

The R2 certification guarantees adherence to secure and environmentally responsible IT asset disposition. The key principles of R2 certification include:

• Data Protection: All devices are properly wiped or destroyed to protect sensitive information.
• Environmental Responsibility: Waste is reduced, materials are recycled, and hazardous substances are prevented from entering landfills.
• Health and Safety Protocols: Workers and the surrounding community are protected from any hazards associated with handling and disposing of electronic equipment.
• Tracking and Accountability: All materials are traced throughout the recycling process, ensuring that everything is disposed of responsibly.
• Reuse and Refurbishment: When possible, the life of electronics is extended by refurbishing and reselling them.

“OMES selected mender, an R2-certified company, because they adhere to the strict guidelines required of responsible and sustainable electronic waste disposal,” OMES Capital Assets Management Administrator Nathan Wald said. “Breaking down IT assets is a complex, intricate process. Facilities like mender help us break down IT equipment and allow the precious metals like gold and nickel found inside the devices to be harvested.”

IT Asset Disposition Process

That last bullet in the R2 certification is the first step in OMES and mender’s ITAD program. It begins by processing all surplus IT devices on-site before deciding whether to recycle or refurbish the equipment. When refurbishment is not possible, the devices are sent to mender for responsible end-of-life processing. At mender’s state-of-the-art facility, the IT equipment is dismantled to recover valuable materials. Data security and environmental sustainability are never compromised.

Oklahoma’s ITAD program can serve as a blueprint for other states looking to improve their IT asset disposition. In fact, fewer than 10 states nationwide operate comparable programs. For any state governments or corporations interested in reducing the environmental impact of their IT asset disposition, please reach out to mender and discover how our recycling and sustainability solutions fit your needs.

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