How Oklahoma Turned E-Waste into ROI

The State of Oklahoma regularly upgrades its tech fleet, which means mountains of retired electronics that can’t just be tossed in the dumpster. These devices hold sensitive data, and the state wanted ironclad security for erasure. On top of that, they weren’t about to ignore the environmental cost of e-waste.

The Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) needed an electronics disposal program that could check all the boxes: fiscal responsibility, bulletproof data security, and genuine environmental stewardship.

Enter mender. We built a secure, eco-friendly disposal and remarketing program tailored for OMES. Every device is processed for complete data destruction before it even thinks about leaving our facility.

As an R2-certified company, we follow strict e-waste protocols — meaning hazardous materials never make it to a landfill, and workers and communities stay protected from the nasty side effects of improper disposal. We track materials through every step of the recycling process, so there’s no “trust us” — there’s proof.

Whenever possible, we breathe new life into old equipment through refurbishment and resale to our global buyer network. This not only keeps electronics out of the waste stream, but also puts money back in the state’s pocket.

The payoff?

• $381,000 saved in year one through refurbishment and resale, reclaiming value that would’ve been lost.
• 700+ kilograms of hazardous materials kept out of landfills and waterways, with precious metals recovered for reuse.
• Two to three semi-trucks of surplus IT gear processed monthly, keeping the program fast and efficient.

OMES now has a program that protects data, saves money, and helps the planet, and it’s a model other states can follow.

Because with mender, there’s no need to choose between doing what’s right for the budget, what’s right for security, and what’s right for the earth. You can have it all.

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