ITAD & Electronics Recycling Glossary
Industry terms explained in plain English. Whether you're evaluating recyclers, planning an IT refresh, or building a compliance program, start here.
A
Asset Recovery
Asset recovery is the process of maximizing the remaining value of retired IT equipment through testing, refurbishment, and resale, reducing overall disposition costs.
Read full definition →ProcessesAsset Tagging
Asset tagging is the practice of labeling IT equipment with unique identifiers (barcodes, QR codes, or RFID tags) for tracking throughout its lifecycle, including disposition.
Read full definition →C
Certificate of Destruction
A certificate of destruction is an official document issued by a recycler confirming that specific IT assets have been securely destroyed and data has been rendered unrecoverable.
Read full definition →Data SecurityChain of Custody
Chain of custody is the documented trail tracking the handling and location of IT assets from the moment they leave your facility through final disposition.
Read full definition →D
Data Center Decommissioning
Data center decommissioning is the process of safely shutting down and removing IT infrastructure from a data center, including servers, storage, and networking equipment.
Read full definition →Data SecurityData Sanitization
Data sanitization is the process of deliberately, permanently, and irreversibly removing or destroying data stored on a memory device, making it unrecoverable.
Read full definition →Data SecurityData Wiping
Data wiping is a software-based method of overwriting all data on a storage device with random patterns, making the original data unrecoverable while keeping the drive reusable.
Read full definition →Data SecurityDegaussing
Degaussing uses a powerful magnetic field to erase data on magnetic storage media like hard drives and tapes, rendering them permanently unreadable.
Read full definition →ProcessesDownstream Vendor
A downstream vendor is a company that receives processed materials or components from a recycler for further processing, smelting, or recycling, the next link in the recycling chain.
Read full definition →E
e-Stewards
e-Stewards is an electronics recycling certification program by the Basel Action Network (BAN) that ensures recyclers do not export hazardous e-waste to developing countries.
Read full definition →GeneralE-Waste
Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to discarded electronic devices and equipment, including computers, monitors, phones, and peripherals that have reached end-of-life.
Read full definition →F
FACTA
FACTA (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act) requires businesses that maintain consumer information to properly dispose of it, including destroying electronic records on retired equipment.
Read full definition →ProcessesFunctional Testing
Functional testing evaluates whether retired IT equipment still works properly, determining if it can be remarketed for value recovery or should be sent directly to recycling.
Read full definition →H
Hard Drive Shredding
Hard drive shredding is the physical destruction of hard drives using industrial shredders, reducing them to small fragments to ensure complete data destruction.
Read full definition →EquipmentHDD
A hard disk drive (HDD) is a data storage device that uses spinning magnetic platters and a read/write head to store and retrieve data. HDDs require sanitization before disposal.
Read full definition →ComplianceHIPAA Compliance
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) requires healthcare organizations to protect patient health information, including proper disposal of IT equipment containing PHI.
Read full definition →N
NAS
A network-attached storage (NAS) device is a dedicated file storage server that connects to a network, containing multiple drives that must be sanitized before disposal.
Read full definition →EquipmentNetwork Switch
A network switch is a networking device that connects devices on a computer network and can store configuration data, routing tables, and access credentials that must be wiped before disposal.
Read full definition →Data SecurityNIST 800-88
NIST Special Publication 800-88 is the U.S. government standard for media sanitization, providing guidelines for securely erasing data from storage devices before disposal or reuse.
Read full definition →R
R2 Certification
R2 (Responsible Recycling) is a globally recognized standard for electronics recyclers that ensures responsible management of used electronics through environmental, health, safety, and data security practices.
Read full definition →ProcessesReverse Logistics
Reverse logistics is the process of moving equipment from end users back to the recycler or manufacturer for disposition, including pickup scheduling, packaging, and transport.
Read full definition →S
Server
A server is a computer designed to process requests and deliver data to other computers. Servers contain multiple storage drives and require comprehensive data destruction before disposal.
Read full definition →ComplianceSOX Compliance
SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act) requires publicly traded companies to maintain internal controls over financial reporting, including secure disposal of IT systems containing financial data.
Read full definition →EquipmentSSD
A solid-state drive (SSD) stores data on flash memory chips with no moving parts. SSDs require different sanitization methods than traditional hard drives.
Read full definition →Showing 30 of 30 terms
Need Help Understanding Your Options?
Our team can explain your recycling and data destruction options in plain language, no jargon, no pressure.