Data center decommissioning involves dismantling and removing equipment and infrastructure from a data center.
Decommissioning can happen for several reasons. Nowadays, many companies are moving their operations to the cloud.
Equipment gets old and needs upgrading or replacement.
Sometimes, data centers use third-party quarters, and when leasing agreements finish, companies have to move everything to another location.
Now, what happens with old equipment that needs replacement or appliances that no longer work?
Data centers host huge amounts of electronic appliances that need replacement, fixing, or just reach their end of lifecycle.
After data center decommissioning, these electronic items do not just go to a common landfill and end up piled up in a huge mountain of e-waste.
Luckily for the environment and also for your business, your equipment has a second chance, and it actually has some benefits for you.
In this post, we explain the importance of recycling and asset recovery in a data center decommissioning process and what it means for your business.
Why Data Center Decommissioning is important
Data center decommissioning became extremely important, especially now with the data center boom, characterized by the need for more data storage and the implementation of AI systems.
The number of data centers is growing, and with them grows the number of electronic devices that these facilities use.
The decommissioning process here becomes important for handling the equipment in accordance with safety regulations and environmental standards.
During a decommissioning process, there are many risks involved, including:
- Data Breaches: The storage and elimination of data stored in servers follows strict guidelines because, if done incorrectly, there’s the possibility of unauthorized data recovery and disclosure.
- Non-Compliance: Failing to comply with regulations on data security and asset disposal can result in heavy fines, legal issues, and the loss of your business reputation and clients.
- Environmental Damage: Of course, irresponsible disposal of electronic waste and other materials from data center decommissioning processes contributes to polluting water, air, and land, threatening all forms of living.
- Asset Loss: Devices and appliances can still have some form of value, but ignoring the possibilities for discarded equipment means you’re losing both assets and money.
Precisely, we’re going to delve deeper into these two last points.
Data Center Equipment Recycling and Recovery
Why do we say your equipment has a second chance?
There’s no need to throw away all the elements after a data center decommissioning. Some appliances and devices still work, and the ones that don’t still have other opportunities.
Decommissioning processes often involve a recycling phase and the evaluation of assets for possible financial recovery:
First of all, repairing equipment is possible. Your company has the opportunity to generate additional revenue by refurbishing and reselling the equipment.
Second, electronic devices contain components like gold, steel, and copper. Instead of discarding wiring and servers, the extraction of these precious materials also brings in some money.
Did you know that in 2022, the value of materials in discarded electronic devices globally was US$ 91 billion? Imagine all that money wasted.
Recycling often sounds like a “trendy”, “hashtag” word today, but it is beneficial in many ways:
- Protecting the Environment: Through material extraction and waste reduction, you avoid releasing hazardous pollutants straight into landfills.
- Providing Extra Revenue: Reselling devices and materials allows you to recover initial investment costs on appliances.
- Cost Reduction: Instead of just letting these devices sit and accumulate dust, managing them right away prevents value loss and reduces energy costs. If you decide to reuse devices, you also avoid wasting more budget on new equipment.
- Improving Brand Reputation: Some customers prefer to buy products and use services from eco-friendly companies that adhere to environmental protection policies. Show your clients you are going green through recycling.
Some items to recover include:
- Servers
- Cables and wires
- Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)
- Cooling units
- Routers
Through recycling, reselling, and dismantling equipment, your business contributes to a better planet while also gaining money and improving brand image.
Now that is what we call a win-win.
Responsible Data Center Decommissioning
During a decommissioning process, there are risks of losing equipment, damaging devices, or losing recovery opportunities.
For that reason, a decommissioning process involves careful planning and completing an asset inventory to understand the number of devices you have, if they work, or need repair, and where they are.
It is paramount to choose a data center decommissioning service provider that guarantees a complete, organized, and safe decommissioning, follows security standards, and helps you recover assets as much as possible.
Recycling now isn’t a buzzword anymore.
When it comes to data center decommissioning, let recycling become part of your winning strategy.