Sustainable Recycling & Final Reporting
When equipment reaches the end of its lifecycle, responsible recycling ensures regulatory compliance, environmental protection, and measurable ESG outcomes.
When hardware has no remaining market value, responsible disposal is not optional, it is a regulatory obligation.
EPOKA processes every end-of-life IT asset through through certified R2v3 and/or E-Stewards recycling partners in accordance with applicable environmental regulations., recovers materials for circular economy reuse, manages hazardous components safely, and delivers a complete ESG sustainability report on request to close your ITAD project.
What Is IT Equipment Recycling in ITAD?
IT equipment recycling in ITAD is the certified final disposition step for assets with no remaining market value. Hardware is dismantled, materials are separated for recovery, hazardous substances are managed safely under WEEE and RoHS requirements, and a Certificate of Recycling plus ESG sustainability report are issued as regulatory compliance evidence and ESG disclosure documentation.
Recycling is the final step in EPOKA’s ITAD process, applied to assets that cannot be remarketed as whole units or through parts harvesting. It closes the loop: every asset that entered the ITAD process at collection is accounted for at final disposition, with documented evidence of its fate.
Crucially, recycling is not the same as disposal. Certified e-waste recycling recovers valuable materials, gold, copper, aluminium, rare earth elements, and returns them to the supply chain. It is the circular economy in practice, and it generates the measurable ESG data your sustainability team needs for regulatory disclosure.
The regulatory landscape for IT recycling has tightened significantly. The Basel Convention 2025 amendments (effective January 2025) now subject all cross-border e-waste movements, including non-hazardous equipment under the new Y49 code, to the Prior Informed Consent procedure. The WEEE Directive requires documented compliant processing for all end-of-life IT equipment placed on the EU market. And CSRD (updated via Omnibus I in February 2026) requires qualifying organisations to report on waste and circular economy metrics.
EPOKA manages compliance across all three frameworks simultaneously, with certified recycling partners holding the required permits, documentation, and international approvals to process your hardware legally in every jurisdiction where it is collected.
Every asset is either remarketed, recycled for materials recovery, or treated as specialist hazardous waste. Nothing goes to landfill.
All processing performed by certified WEEE-compliant partners with documented regulatory approvals per jurisdiction.
Avoided primary production emissions quantified per asset type and weight. Ready for ESG disclosure and board reporting.
All metrics formatted for CSRD ESRS E5, GRI 306, and CDP supply chain questionnaires. Included in every ITAD project close-out.
WEEE, Basel Convention, and What Changed in 2025
NIST SP 800-88 defines three levels of media sanitization. The correct method depends on media type, data classification, and whether the asset will be reused, resold, or discarded. Epoka selects the appropriate method per device during triage.
WEEE Directive
The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive requires producers placing EEE on the EU market to fund its collection, treatment, and recycling at end of life. For enterprises, this means end-of-life IT equipment must be processed by certified WEEE-compliant facilities, with documentation proving compliant disposal.
WEEE sets collection targets, restricts landfill disposal, mandates separate collection from general waste, and requires treatment to specific technical standards. All Epoka partner facilities hold WEEE authorisation for the jurisdictions in which they operate.
Basel Convention - 2025 Amendments
Effective January 2025, all cross-border movements of e-waste now require Prior Informed Consent (PIC) - including non-hazardous equipment listed under the new Y49 code. Hazardous WEEE is now listed under A1181, replacing the previous A1180. The previously used B1110 and B4030 exemptions have been deleted.
In practice: any enterprise IT equipment shipped across national borders for recycling now requires advance notification and written consent from authorities in importing and transit countries, regardless of whether it is classified as hazardous.
CSRD - Omnibus I Update (2026)
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive requires qualifying organisations to report on waste and circular economy metrics under ESRS E5. IT recycling data contributes directly to mandatory disclosures on resource use, waste diversion, and circular material flows.
Omnibus I update (February 2026): Wave 2 scope has been narrowed to companies with 1,000+ employees and €450M+ net turnover, with the first Wave 2 report now expected for FY2027 (published 2028). Wave 1 large PIEs continue reporting from FY2024. Monitor scope developments - thresholds may shift further.
Hazardous Materials
What We Handle on Your Behalf
Enterprise IT equipment contains regulated hazardous substances that require specialist handling and disposal separate from standard e-waste streams. EPOKA’s ISO 14001-certified processes ensure every substance below is managed correctly, automatically, without separate instructions from you.
Lead
A neurotoxin regulated under RoHS Directive. Found in solder (pre-RoHS hardware), CRT glass, and battery terminals. Requires specialist smelting and controlled disposal.
Found in: Pre-2006 server motherboards, CRT monitors, UPS batteries, older networking hardware.
Mercury
Toxic heavy metal restricted under RoHS. Found in fluorescent backlights in older LCD displays and some relay switches. Requires sealed container disposal to specialist facilities.
Found in: CCFL-backlit LCD monitors and laptops manufactured before approx. 2012.
Cadmium
Carcinogenic heavy metal regulated under RoHS and WEEE. Found in rechargeable NiCd batteries, certain contacts, and older semiconductor components. Separate collection required.
Found in: NiCd battery packs, older laptops, some storage array batteries, certain PCB components.
Hexavalent Chromium
Highly toxic chromium compound used in anti-corrosion coatings on metal parts and in some dyes. Restricted under RoHS. Requires controlled processing and verified destruction.
Found in: Metal chassis coatings, server rack components, connector housings in pre-RoHS hardware.
Brominated Flame Retardants
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) used as flame retardants in plastic housings and circuit boards. Require high-temperature incineration at specialist facilities to prevent toxic dioxin release.
Found in: PCB substrates, plastic server and laptop housings, cable insulation, prevalent in hardware from all eras.
Lithium Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries require separate collection and specialist recycling due to fire risk and lithium recovery value. Regulated under EU Battery Regulation 2023 and WEEE Directive.
Found in: All laptops, tablets, mobile devices, UPS systems, and CMOS batteries in servers and networking equipment.
Certifications & Standards
Certified for Responsible IT Recycling
Our recycling operations run through ISO 14001-certified environmental management processes and certified partner facilities compliant with the regulatory requirements of each operating jurisdiction.
Quality Management
Consistent, documented recycling procedures across all partner facilities. Every project follows the same certified quality management standards regardless of geography or volume.
Environmental Management
Responsible management of all physical destruction materials. Shredded media processed through certified e-waste recycling partners.
Information Security
All data-bearing devices are certified as data-sanitized before any recycling begins. No asset enters the recycling stream without a Certificate of Data Destruction issued per serial number.
Occupational Safety
Safe handling of all e-waste including hazardous materials. Certified practices cover all staff and partner facility workers involved in IT equipment recycling and hazardous waste processing.
Start Your ITAD Project - See the Value First
Submit your asset list and Epoka will assess the market value of your retired hardware
and provide a transparent buyback offer - at no cost, with no obligation.
Once you approve, we manage the entire ITAD process from collection to final certificate.
ITAD
Submitting this form is completely non-binding. One of our specialists will contact you shortly.
Explore the Full ITAD Process
Navigate the complete ITAD framework below.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from IT teams, CISOs, and compliance managers.
What is IT equipment recycling in ITAD? ▾
IT equipment recycling in ITAD is the certified final disposition step for assets with no remaining market value. Hardware is dismantled, materials are separated for recovery, hazardous substances are managed safely under WEEE and RoHS requirements, and a Certificate of Recycling plus ESG sustainability report are issued for regulatory compliance and ESG disclosure. Recycling is always the last resort, EPOKA first assesses every asset for remarketing and parts harvesting before routing to recycling.
What materials are recovered from recycled IT equipment? ▾
Enterprise IT equipment contains gold, silver, copper, palladium, aluminium, steel, and rare earth elements, all recoverable through certified smelting and refining. Recovered quantities are documented in the ESG sustainability report by material category and weight.
What changed in the Basel Convention for e-waste in 2025? ▾
Effective January 2025, the Basel Convention amendments require Prior Informed Consent (PIC) for all cross-border movements of e-waste — both hazardous (new code A1181, replacing A1180) and non-hazardous (new code Y49). The previously used B1110 and B4030 exemptions were deleted. All enterprise IT equipment shipped across borders for recycling now requires advance notification and written consent from all relevant authorities in importing and transit countries, regardless of hazardous classification.
What is a Certificate of Recycling in ITAD? ▾
A Certificate of Recycling identifies each asset by serial number and confirms it has been processed through a certified WEEE-compliant facility, with materials recovered and hazardous substances safely managed. Epoka’s recycling certificates document the receiving facility, its regulatory authorisations, materials recovered by weight and category, and confirmation of compliant hazardous waste treatment. This is your regulatory evidence for WEEE and Basel Convention compliance.
How does IT recycling support CSRD reporting? ▾
IT recycling contributes to CSRD under ESRS E5 (Resource Use and Circular Economy) by providing quantified data on waste diverted from landfill, materials recovered, hazardous substances safely managed, and CO² savings. Epoka’s ESG sustainability report formats this data for CSRD disclosures. Following the Omnibus I Directive (February 2026), Wave 2 scope is now companies with 1,000+ employees and €450M+ turnover, with first Wave 2 reports for FY2027. Wave 1 large PIEs report from FY2024.
What hazardous materials are in enterprise IT equipment? ▾
Enterprise IT equipment contains regulated hazardous substances including lead (solder and CRT glass in pre-RoHS hardware), mercury (fluorescent backlights in older displays), cadmium (NiCd batteries and some contacts), hexavalent chromium (anti-corrosion coatings), brominated flame retardants in circuit boards and housings, and lithium in rechargeable batteries. All require specialist handling. Epoka’s ISO 14001-certified processes identify and segregate all regulated substances before recycling begins.
What is zero-landfill in ITAD recycling? ▾
Zero-landfill means no IT asset or recovered material is deposited in landfill. Assets are either remarketed for reuse, processed for materials recovery through certified smelting and refining, or treated as specialist hazardous waste through regulated disposal channels. Epoka’s zero-landfill commitment is backed by recycling manifests from certified partner facilities - included in the ESG report as an auditable metric, not a marketing claim.
What documentation do I receive from certified IT recycling? ▾
You receive a Certificate of Recycling per asset confirming WEEE-compliant processing, a recycling manifest detailing materials recovered by weight and category, and an ESG sustainability report quantifying CO² savings, e-waste diversion, and hazardous materials managed. All documentation is in audit-ready PDF and CSV formats, formatted for CSRD ESRS E5, GRI 306, and CDP supply chain questionnaire reporting.
