globally reuse or repurpose their IT hardware internally , but the method is growing in popularity , with companies like Microsoft or Google implementing circular models for their servers ,” states Marcin Bala , CEO of Salumanus .
For example , life cycles can be extended by repurposing older hardware into back-up equipment , rather than having them run 24 / 7 .
Equally , for custom services , plans for future re-use can actually be incorporated into the design of new equipment . If you partner with an IT asset disposition ( ITAD ) operator , and use their guidance when designing the equipment , you can maximise the re-usability of its constituent parts . And , for parts that cannot directly be reused , they can still be optimised for repair and resale .
Studies show that the carbon contribution for an average 1MW data centre includes 33,000lbs of emissions from its plastic , 73,000lbs from aluminium and 377,000lbs from steel . As such , re-using materials – either as whole units or its separate parts – as much as possible is the best way to minimise energy emissions .
If the parts cannot be reused , equipment should still be designed so that it only uses recyclable equipment . Reusing is the best-case-scenario , but the emissions created by recycling materials is just a fraction of that caused by manufacturing using virgin materials .
What e-waste management solutions currently exist ? One highly effective way to improve your internal e-waste recycling programmes is to choose a specialist partner waste disposal company .
“ After wiping all data from the equipment , data centre operators should partner with waste management companies that operate a ‘ zero waste to landfill ’ policy . This means all IT equipment will be processed and recycled accordingly ,” Bala recommends .
It is imperative that you choose a waste management company that offers a local service . Wherever possible , avoid partnering with a company that ships waste overseas , as this not only generates high levels of emissions , but it can also lead to the materials being dumped .
So , ask your potential contractors for certifications and proof of their recycling processes , and then discuss the wastereduction initiatives they can devise with you .
Then , when you do have to replace your equipment , prioritise sustainable replacements . For example , one solution that is being increasingly deployed in the industry is the strategic consolidation of storage systems , to simplify data centre sites .
“ One way to reduce the amount of power consumed is to dramatically simplify the data centre by consolidating the number of storage arrays in operation ,” advises Gareth Beanland , UK & I Country Manager at Infinidat .
“ Thanks to advancements in enterprise software-defined storage technology , there is no longer any need for 25 or 50 different older arrays , each running one application or workload , when all of those applications and workloads can fit on just one or two modern enterprise storage platforms .”
This will not only massively reduce the amount of equipment required , but it also enables data centres to reduce their power consumption and cooling expenditure , minimise manpower requirements , and utilise space more effectively .
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