Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does my tech have to be in working order to be donated to Tech-Takeback?
No. Tech-takeback accepts unwanted tech in any condition. The reason for this is that at Tech-Takeback, we love the environment and want to preserve it for the benefit of future generations – for tech our primary aim is reuse, followed by recycling and as a last resort safe destruction. We, therefore, focus on safe, secure and sustainable ways to enable you to dispose of your unwanted tech. Tech-Takeback’s mission is to increase reuse of old tech – we will take your broken and your working unwanted tech and safely erase the data on data-bearing items and then focus on enabling it to have a second life (if feasible). If the item really is at the end of its useful life, we will ensure that it is responsibly recycled or safely physically destroyed as appropriate.
2. What items can I donate?
You can donate at the pop-up shop any data-bearing unwanted tech or any unwanted tech that does not contain data. Please do not worry about how old the item is – all ages of tech are gratefully received. Also it does not matter if it does not work – we have a plan for non-working items.
Before dropping off your old tech, please ensure that you have copied off all data that you want to keep. If possible, please bring the charger and cables for the device, as it will be much easier for us to give it a second life with these (if you have lost them we will still take it). If you have a collection of random old cables and you are not sure where they have come from, then you can still bring them down with or without the device.
Examples of items for donation are:
· PCs
· Tablets
· Laptops
· Hard drives
· CDs and DVDs
· Memory cards
· USBs and USB connected devices
· Mobile phones
· Smart phones
· Games consoles
· Printers
· Digital cameras
· Sat Navs
· Cables
If you have other waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE), for example electric kettles, toasters, toothbrushes, hairdryers etc, if they are repairable, reusable or ripe for upcycling, please list them on to Freegle https://www.ilovefreegle.org/ to find someone local who can make use of them and collect from you.
Or take them to one of the numerous small electrical recycling points across the city:
Large (WEEE) electrical items like heaters, big paper shredders, washing machines etc can also be freegled (for someone else to repair, reuse or upcycle) https://www.ilovefreegle.org/ or taken to local tip for recycling, more recycling information here >>
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/environment/recycling-rubbish-and-street-cleaning/recycling-electrical-items-batteries-and#subtitle6
3. Will Tech-Takeback save my files and return them to me prior to commencing the erasure of the data from my device?
No. At present, Tech-Takeback does not offer such a service. It is essential that you copy the files that you want to keep before you bring the item to the Tech-Takeback pop-up shop. Copy the data onto your new PC, storage or back-up device. When you drop off your unwanted tech, we will register your items in our asset inventory and ask you to sign to confirm that (1) you have removed any data you want to keep and that (2) you authorise Tech-Takeback to erase your data. Our government approved data erasure process will overwrite the data which means that it cannot be retrieved once the data erasure process has been completed. If the data erasure process fails due to bad sectors on the hard disk, a report alerts the data erasure specialist and the hard disk will then be safely physically destroyed (shredded so that the data cannot be retrieved).
4. Why do I need the data on my hard drive or mobile device to be securely erased? Can’t I just delete the data myself or take a sledge hammer to my hard drive or device?
Deleting files does not delete the contents of the file (please see the explanation at question no 5 below). Tempting though it may be on a bad day to take out your frustration on your old tech, unless you shred to small particles, it is possible that the data can be read by someone determined! Destroying the device or hard drive is not sustainable as it means the precious resources (eg aluminium and other precious metals) within the hard drive only have one opportunity for use; we want to give the tech a 2nd and if possible 3rd life which is why destruction is the last resort for Tech-Takeback and its passion for reuse. Physical destruction can only be securely achieved if a large mechanical machine shreds the disk into small particles of between 3 to 20 mm (depending on the confidentiality or classification of the data).
5. If I delete the files on my hard drive or mobile phone isn’t that sufficient? Why do I need Tech-takeback’s data erasure service?
Successful data erasure requires use of appropriate software, integrated processes and highly skilled professionals. Your hard drive is like a book that has a table of contents page and chapters (that is the files on your hard drive). When you delete a file, the entry is removed from the table of contents but the chapter is still in the book and the file can be found amongst the pages. Data-wiping or data-erasure software overwrites the table of contents and the files but remnants of wiped files can still be found elsewhere on your hard drive. This is because when a file is retrieved from the hard disk it is stored in the RAM (Random Access Memory). Before you switch off your device, as the RAM needs a constant source of power, it passes the files back to the hard disk for storage. Files pass between the drive and the RAM continuously and this means that bits of the file will exist in different sectors of the disk, hence a simple file wipe will not delete all the data. To ensure removal of all data, a full disk wipe is required which consists of software overwriting every single byte of data on the hard drive with a random pattern of 1s and 0s. Data-wiping to a satisfactory standard to ensure the protection of your personal data is a complex process requiring the use of specialist software capable of detecting areas of the disk which are corrupted (known as bad sectors) which cannot be overwritten and of overwriting protected areas of the disk. Free software does not have the sophistication to do this. Specialist software will report failure caused by bad sectors and the disk must then be physically destroyed (ie shredded).
6. My unwanted tech is very old and I don’t think it works any more. Will Tech-Takeback still want it?
Yes. Tech-Takeback exists to breathe second life into unwanted tech.
Our activities are based on the following circular economy thinking:
No. Tech-takeback accepts unwanted tech in any condition. The reason for this is that at Tech-Takeback, we love the environment and want to preserve it for the benefit of future generations – for tech our primary aim is reuse, followed by recycling and as a last resort safe destruction. We, therefore, focus on safe, secure and sustainable ways to enable you to dispose of your unwanted tech. Tech-Takeback’s mission is to increase reuse of old tech – we will take your broken and your working unwanted tech and safely erase the data on data-bearing items and then focus on enabling it to have a second life (if feasible). If the item really is at the end of its useful life, we will ensure that it is responsibly recycled or safely physically destroyed as appropriate.
2. What items can I donate?
You can donate at the pop-up shop any data-bearing unwanted tech or any unwanted tech that does not contain data. Please do not worry about how old the item is – all ages of tech are gratefully received. Also it does not matter if it does not work – we have a plan for non-working items.
Before dropping off your old tech, please ensure that you have copied off all data that you want to keep. If possible, please bring the charger and cables for the device, as it will be much easier for us to give it a second life with these (if you have lost them we will still take it). If you have a collection of random old cables and you are not sure where they have come from, then you can still bring them down with or without the device.
Examples of items for donation are:
· PCs
· Tablets
· Laptops
· Hard drives
· CDs and DVDs
· Memory cards
· USBs and USB connected devices
· Mobile phones
· Smart phones
· Games consoles
· Printers
· Digital cameras
· Sat Navs
· Cables
If you have other waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE), for example electric kettles, toasters, toothbrushes, hairdryers etc, if they are repairable, reusable or ripe for upcycling, please list them on to Freegle https://www.ilovefreegle.org/ to find someone local who can make use of them and collect from you.
Or take them to one of the numerous small electrical recycling points across the city:
Large (WEEE) electrical items like heaters, big paper shredders, washing machines etc can also be freegled (for someone else to repair, reuse or upcycle) https://www.ilovefreegle.org/ or taken to local tip for recycling, more recycling information here >>
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/environment/recycling-rubbish-and-street-cleaning/recycling-electrical-items-batteries-and#subtitle6
3. Will Tech-Takeback save my files and return them to me prior to commencing the erasure of the data from my device?
No. At present, Tech-Takeback does not offer such a service. It is essential that you copy the files that you want to keep before you bring the item to the Tech-Takeback pop-up shop. Copy the data onto your new PC, storage or back-up device. When you drop off your unwanted tech, we will register your items in our asset inventory and ask you to sign to confirm that (1) you have removed any data you want to keep and that (2) you authorise Tech-Takeback to erase your data. Our government approved data erasure process will overwrite the data which means that it cannot be retrieved once the data erasure process has been completed. If the data erasure process fails due to bad sectors on the hard disk, a report alerts the data erasure specialist and the hard disk will then be safely physically destroyed (shredded so that the data cannot be retrieved).
4. Why do I need the data on my hard drive or mobile device to be securely erased? Can’t I just delete the data myself or take a sledge hammer to my hard drive or device?
Deleting files does not delete the contents of the file (please see the explanation at question no 5 below). Tempting though it may be on a bad day to take out your frustration on your old tech, unless you shred to small particles, it is possible that the data can be read by someone determined! Destroying the device or hard drive is not sustainable as it means the precious resources (eg aluminium and other precious metals) within the hard drive only have one opportunity for use; we want to give the tech a 2nd and if possible 3rd life which is why destruction is the last resort for Tech-Takeback and its passion for reuse. Physical destruction can only be securely achieved if a large mechanical machine shreds the disk into small particles of between 3 to 20 mm (depending on the confidentiality or classification of the data).
5. If I delete the files on my hard drive or mobile phone isn’t that sufficient? Why do I need Tech-takeback’s data erasure service?
Successful data erasure requires use of appropriate software, integrated processes and highly skilled professionals. Your hard drive is like a book that has a table of contents page and chapters (that is the files on your hard drive). When you delete a file, the entry is removed from the table of contents but the chapter is still in the book and the file can be found amongst the pages. Data-wiping or data-erasure software overwrites the table of contents and the files but remnants of wiped files can still be found elsewhere on your hard drive. This is because when a file is retrieved from the hard disk it is stored in the RAM (Random Access Memory). Before you switch off your device, as the RAM needs a constant source of power, it passes the files back to the hard disk for storage. Files pass between the drive and the RAM continuously and this means that bits of the file will exist in different sectors of the disk, hence a simple file wipe will not delete all the data. To ensure removal of all data, a full disk wipe is required which consists of software overwriting every single byte of data on the hard drive with a random pattern of 1s and 0s. Data-wiping to a satisfactory standard to ensure the protection of your personal data is a complex process requiring the use of specialist software capable of detecting areas of the disk which are corrupted (known as bad sectors) which cannot be overwritten and of overwriting protected areas of the disk. Free software does not have the sophistication to do this. Specialist software will report failure caused by bad sectors and the disk must then be physically destroyed (ie shredded).
6. My unwanted tech is very old and I don’t think it works any more. Will Tech-Takeback still want it?
Yes. Tech-Takeback exists to breathe second life into unwanted tech.
Our activities are based on the following circular economy thinking:
7. Is Tech-takeback’s data erasure service free to residents?
Yes. There are two service options offered to residents:
(1) Free data erasure service using government approved methods. Once the data has been erased from all data-bearing devices received during the pop-up shop event that you attended, you will be sent an e-mail from Tech-Takeback confirming that data erasure or physical destruction has been completed. As you will see from our data erasure hierarchy, physical destruction is a last resort only but is required when the data erasure process fails. This can be due for example to bad sectors on a hard drive or physical failure of the drive mechanism and we are left with no option but to physically destroy the item by shredding it.
(2) Government certified data erasure service. Whilst it is not necessary for residents to receive a certificate of data erasure, we are happy to provide one for any resident who would prefer to receive one, however, due to licensing, it costs Tech-takeback to produce the certificate and we therefore need to charge residents (£5.00 per hard disk). Hopefully you will appreciate that to ensure Tech-takeback can continue to provide services at future pop-up events, we cannot swallow this cost.
Please note that the same data-wiping erasure process is carried out in (1) and (2). The £5 cost for (2) is to cover the cost of issuing a certificate (as we incur a licence fee to provide that certificate).
8. Is Tech-Takeback’s data erasure service free to businesses?
No. Businesses require the government certified data erasure service to ensure ICO compliance and due to licensing and resource costs that are not covered by our grant, we need to charge £10.00 per hard disk. Sole traders, micro and small businesses attending a pop-up shop event are welcome to drop off items but please be aware that as businesses require a certificate to confirm data erasure there will be a cost of £10.00 per hard disk. This is especially relevant given the new Government Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) that come into force in May 2018 and add extra responsibility on businesses for managing data. Using Tech-Takeback will support these new regulations.
We recommend that businesses contact Tech-Takeback via e-mail and we can then provide advice on how best to assist you.
9. Can I park at the pop-up shop?
Parking availability will vary depending on the pop-up shop’s location, it is very close to Cannon Street Station.
10.How much will I have to pay to have my old tech data erased by Tech-Takeback?
Free for residents (without certificate or £5 for residents with certificate).
Small charge for businesses.
Tech-takeback provides two data erasure services:
(1) For residents (not businesses) - FREE data erasure service using government approved methods. Once the data has been erased from all data-bearing devices received during the pop-up shop event that you attended, you will be sent an e-mail from Tech-Takeback confirming that data erasure or physical destruction has been completed. As you will see from our data erasure hierarchy, physical destruction is a last resort only but is required if the data erasure process fails. This can be due, for example, to bad sectors on a hard drive or physical failure of the hard drive mechanism and we are left with no option but to physically destroy the item by shredding it. However, with our passion for reuse, the shredded material known as swarf, will be reused by us – did you see our pro baubles? Keep an eye out for our next swarf-generated artistic item.
(2) Government certified data erasure service. Whilst it is not necessary for residents to receive a certificate of data erasure, we are happy to provide one for any resident who would prefer to receive one, however, due to licensing, it costs Tech-takeback to produce the certificate and we therefore need to charge residents (£5.00 per hard disk). Hopefully you will appreciate that to ensure Tech-takeback can continue to provide services at future pop-up events, we cannot swallow this cost. To comply with data protection, businesses should obtain receive a certificate generated by government approved software. There is a cost to Tech-Takeback for using this software and generating the certificate, therefore, we have no alternative but to charge businesses £10.00 per hard disk.
11.Where can I dispose of Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE)?
Anything legal can be listed on to your local Freegle group https://www.ilovefreegle.org/
This is a free and simple way to find someone local who can make use of your unwanted stuff and they will collect from you. Just describe goods accurately (working or not, condition size, colour, model) as there are many Freegle members who are interested in repairing, upcycling and making art - so it is possible that something that seems like rubbish to you is treasure for someone else.
Don’t throw it away. Give it away.
SMALL electrical goods can be dropped to one of the numerous small electrical recycling points across the city:
Large (WEEE) electrical items like heaters, big paper shredders, washing machines etc can also be freegled; this makes it easy to find someone local who wants to repair, reuse or upcycle or unwanted things https://www.ilovefreegle.org/ There are 30,000 people in Brighton and Hove who use Freegle. Do join them!
Or as always goods can be taken to local Household Waste and Recycling Centres (the tip) in Hove and East Brighton for recycling. Lots more WEEE recycling information here >>
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/environment/recycling-rubbish-and-street-cleaning/recycling-electrical-items-batteries-and#subtitle6
12.Can I just take my old tech to the tip (household waste recycling centre)?
Old tech dropped off at the household waste recycling centre is treated as waste which means that the materials in the equipment will not be reused, but will be recycled. Whilst recycling is better than landfill, we would like the opportunity to give the tech a second life. Based on Tech-Takeback’s 3Rs hierarchy (see question 6 above) Reuse is preferable to Recycling.
13.What happens to the tech once it has been data erased?
All the goods are sorted and assessed for reuse. Once hard drives and devices are data-wiped, along with all the other non-data-holding items, they are assessed to see if they could be resold, refurbished, repaired, reused or made available for upcycling and arts projects. If none of these options are viable then the goods are handed over to Cityclean for government-standard WEEE recycling.
Goods that we decide to “not” recycle may end up in a number of different places. We reach out to charities and local projects that may be able to make use of them (e.g: refugee, homeless, aged, youth, arts and other organisations). We may also list items onto Freegle so anyone in the city can benefit from receiving goods they need for free. Cat Fletcher (one of our partners) facilitates this and is able to use City Reuse Depot’s shipping containers to store goods until they are re-distributed.
We may have some items available for donation or for free in following Pop-Up shops. Keep an eye on our website and social media @TechTakeback
If you know of a local project that may be able to make use of old tech please drop us a line >> techtakeback@gmail.com
14.Can I purchase tech at the Tech-Takeback pop-up shop?
At present we do not sell items for reuse from the shop. Items for reuse will be made available via the Brighton Freegle group which is a free service. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/greencyclesussex
At the pop-up shop events, we may be able to offer you data erased USB sticks or cables in return for a donation to Freegle.
If you are interested in any of the items ready for reuse, then please do some “freegling” by looking at Freegle’s website where the tech available for reuse will be detailed – just before one of our pop-up shop events it will be possible for you to collect the items from the next pop-up shop. In between pop-ups the usual Freegle arrangements apply (see notes in FAQs 2. 11. and 13.)
15. Who are the partners?
The Tech-Takeback project is led and managed by the following three partners:
Erase My Data are experts in data erasure and can provide you with the confidence that we work to the highest industry standards that exceed the current best practice for handling data carrying assets .
Freegle help people give and get things for free in their local community. Some people have stuff they don't want any more. Other people would like things they don't have. We match them up.
SOENECS provides strategic advice and support to the public and private sectors and specialises in the fields of waste management, resource management, climate change, circular economy, renewable deployment, carbon management and partnership delivery.
16. How is Tech-Takeback funded?
Tech-Takeback is funded by the City of London
Thank you for taking the time to read, if you have further questions please email techtakeback@gmail.com
Yes. There are two service options offered to residents:
(1) Free data erasure service using government approved methods. Once the data has been erased from all data-bearing devices received during the pop-up shop event that you attended, you will be sent an e-mail from Tech-Takeback confirming that data erasure or physical destruction has been completed. As you will see from our data erasure hierarchy, physical destruction is a last resort only but is required when the data erasure process fails. This can be due for example to bad sectors on a hard drive or physical failure of the drive mechanism and we are left with no option but to physically destroy the item by shredding it.
(2) Government certified data erasure service. Whilst it is not necessary for residents to receive a certificate of data erasure, we are happy to provide one for any resident who would prefer to receive one, however, due to licensing, it costs Tech-takeback to produce the certificate and we therefore need to charge residents (£5.00 per hard disk). Hopefully you will appreciate that to ensure Tech-takeback can continue to provide services at future pop-up events, we cannot swallow this cost.
Please note that the same data-wiping erasure process is carried out in (1) and (2). The £5 cost for (2) is to cover the cost of issuing a certificate (as we incur a licence fee to provide that certificate).
8. Is Tech-Takeback’s data erasure service free to businesses?
No. Businesses require the government certified data erasure service to ensure ICO compliance and due to licensing and resource costs that are not covered by our grant, we need to charge £10.00 per hard disk. Sole traders, micro and small businesses attending a pop-up shop event are welcome to drop off items but please be aware that as businesses require a certificate to confirm data erasure there will be a cost of £10.00 per hard disk. This is especially relevant given the new Government Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) that come into force in May 2018 and add extra responsibility on businesses for managing data. Using Tech-Takeback will support these new regulations.
We recommend that businesses contact Tech-Takeback via e-mail and we can then provide advice on how best to assist you.
9. Can I park at the pop-up shop?
Parking availability will vary depending on the pop-up shop’s location, it is very close to Cannon Street Station.
10.How much will I have to pay to have my old tech data erased by Tech-Takeback?
Free for residents (without certificate or £5 for residents with certificate).
Small charge for businesses.
Tech-takeback provides two data erasure services:
(1) For residents (not businesses) - FREE data erasure service using government approved methods. Once the data has been erased from all data-bearing devices received during the pop-up shop event that you attended, you will be sent an e-mail from Tech-Takeback confirming that data erasure or physical destruction has been completed. As you will see from our data erasure hierarchy, physical destruction is a last resort only but is required if the data erasure process fails. This can be due, for example, to bad sectors on a hard drive or physical failure of the hard drive mechanism and we are left with no option but to physically destroy the item by shredding it. However, with our passion for reuse, the shredded material known as swarf, will be reused by us – did you see our pro baubles? Keep an eye out for our next swarf-generated artistic item.
(2) Government certified data erasure service. Whilst it is not necessary for residents to receive a certificate of data erasure, we are happy to provide one for any resident who would prefer to receive one, however, due to licensing, it costs Tech-takeback to produce the certificate and we therefore need to charge residents (£5.00 per hard disk). Hopefully you will appreciate that to ensure Tech-takeback can continue to provide services at future pop-up events, we cannot swallow this cost. To comply with data protection, businesses should obtain receive a certificate generated by government approved software. There is a cost to Tech-Takeback for using this software and generating the certificate, therefore, we have no alternative but to charge businesses £10.00 per hard disk.
11.Where can I dispose of Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE)?
Anything legal can be listed on to your local Freegle group https://www.ilovefreegle.org/
This is a free and simple way to find someone local who can make use of your unwanted stuff and they will collect from you. Just describe goods accurately (working or not, condition size, colour, model) as there are many Freegle members who are interested in repairing, upcycling and making art - so it is possible that something that seems like rubbish to you is treasure for someone else.
Don’t throw it away. Give it away.
SMALL electrical goods can be dropped to one of the numerous small electrical recycling points across the city:
Large (WEEE) electrical items like heaters, big paper shredders, washing machines etc can also be freegled; this makes it easy to find someone local who wants to repair, reuse or upcycle or unwanted things https://www.ilovefreegle.org/ There are 30,000 people in Brighton and Hove who use Freegle. Do join them!
Or as always goods can be taken to local Household Waste and Recycling Centres (the tip) in Hove and East Brighton for recycling. Lots more WEEE recycling information here >>
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/environment/recycling-rubbish-and-street-cleaning/recycling-electrical-items-batteries-and#subtitle6
12.Can I just take my old tech to the tip (household waste recycling centre)?
Old tech dropped off at the household waste recycling centre is treated as waste which means that the materials in the equipment will not be reused, but will be recycled. Whilst recycling is better than landfill, we would like the opportunity to give the tech a second life. Based on Tech-Takeback’s 3Rs hierarchy (see question 6 above) Reuse is preferable to Recycling.
13.What happens to the tech once it has been data erased?
All the goods are sorted and assessed for reuse. Once hard drives and devices are data-wiped, along with all the other non-data-holding items, they are assessed to see if they could be resold, refurbished, repaired, reused or made available for upcycling and arts projects. If none of these options are viable then the goods are handed over to Cityclean for government-standard WEEE recycling.
Goods that we decide to “not” recycle may end up in a number of different places. We reach out to charities and local projects that may be able to make use of them (e.g: refugee, homeless, aged, youth, arts and other organisations). We may also list items onto Freegle so anyone in the city can benefit from receiving goods they need for free. Cat Fletcher (one of our partners) facilitates this and is able to use City Reuse Depot’s shipping containers to store goods until they are re-distributed.
We may have some items available for donation or for free in following Pop-Up shops. Keep an eye on our website and social media @TechTakeback
If you know of a local project that may be able to make use of old tech please drop us a line >> techtakeback@gmail.com
14.Can I purchase tech at the Tech-Takeback pop-up shop?
At present we do not sell items for reuse from the shop. Items for reuse will be made available via the Brighton Freegle group which is a free service. https://www.ilovefreegle.org/explore/greencyclesussex
At the pop-up shop events, we may be able to offer you data erased USB sticks or cables in return for a donation to Freegle.
If you are interested in any of the items ready for reuse, then please do some “freegling” by looking at Freegle’s website where the tech available for reuse will be detailed – just before one of our pop-up shop events it will be possible for you to collect the items from the next pop-up shop. In between pop-ups the usual Freegle arrangements apply (see notes in FAQs 2. 11. and 13.)
15. Who are the partners?
The Tech-Takeback project is led and managed by the following three partners:
Erase My Data are experts in data erasure and can provide you with the confidence that we work to the highest industry standards that exceed the current best practice for handling data carrying assets .
Freegle help people give and get things for free in their local community. Some people have stuff they don't want any more. Other people would like things they don't have. We match them up.
SOENECS provides strategic advice and support to the public and private sectors and specialises in the fields of waste management, resource management, climate change, circular economy, renewable deployment, carbon management and partnership delivery.
16. How is Tech-Takeback funded?
Tech-Takeback is funded by the City of London
Thank you for taking the time to read, if you have further questions please email techtakeback@gmail.com
© SOENECS Ltd 2019