Wisetek Partner with WEEE Ireland to Prioritise the Secure Recycling of Irish Data Technology

The innovative partnership brings together leading players in the recycling of waste electronic equipment, data sanitization and the management of retired IT equipment. It will ensure that the security of all data on redundant IT equipment is prioritised when waste electronic equipment is disposed of in compliance with the environmental requirements of the WEEE Directive.

Details of the partnership were outlined by Leo Donovan, CEO at WEEE Ireland and Sean Sheehan, Wisetek CEO, at the DataCentres Ireland Exhibition and Conference at the RDS, Dublin. The pair were joined by Pat Breen TD, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, who delivered the keynote address to the conference.

Wisetek’s take back of used technology and the secure sanitization of the data held within it will operate as an additional service to businesses and other end users who require additional steps in their data management chain before they can release old and broken technology for recycling. The Wisetek collaboration is the latest in a line of partnership arrangements that enable WEEE Ireland to help Irish consumers and businesses fulfil their obligations under the scope of the WEEE directive.

Wisetek have also achieved a significant milestone in recycling terms by achieving the WEEELABEX certification for their recycling processes. This standard is a mandatory requirement in Ireland. Through the rigorous WEEELABEX audit process, this certification ensures all equipment is recycled and certified to the highest technical standard.

Speaking of the Wisetek partnership at the RDS, Leo Donovan of WEEE Ireland said, “Here in WEEE Ireland, we are proud to manage sector specific solutions across different aspects of WEEE waste management. More often than not, electronic and technological waste are one and the same. In light of the upcoming GDPR framework coming into force, it has never been more important that there are services in place to manage the recycling and repurposing of waste and retired IT equipment in a secure manner. We’re delighted to partner with Wisetek as the newest WEEELABEX certified facility in Ireland to bring additional capabilities to our recycling offering, ensuring that Irish consumers and businesses keep their old technology out of landfill and their data out of the wrong hands.”

The partnership is timely, as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into force in May 2018, with organisations involved in data processing of any kind needing to be aware of the obligations imposed on them by the new regulatory regime. All organisations whose core business involves processing data, from SMEs to financial services to hospitals, will be affected by the legislation, and must ensure that any waste electronic equipment is recycled in a manner compliant with the regulation.  

About WEEE Ireland

WEEE Ireland (Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment) is a not for profit organisation, founded by Producers of electrical and electronic appliances to help them comply with the legal obligations imposed by the EU Battery Directive 2006/66/EC and WEEE Directive 2012/19/EU. WEEE Ireland manages the collection of household WEEE, lighting equipment and batteries from authorised collection points for recycling, on behalf of its Producer members. WEEE Ireland’s objective is to provide cost effective compliance for Producers to meet the requirements of the Regulations whilst minimising the cost to the consumer. WEEE Irelands popular WEEE Pledge campaign provides incentives and resources for schools to get involved in battery recycling www.weeepledge.ie.