Data Security

Before you bring your computer to a Return-It depot to be recycled please ensure that you have wiped your personal data from the hard-drive.

Proper disposal of bank statements, personal identification numbers, and other sensitive information requires shredding. The same principle holds true for the disposal of digital data.

Once an electronic item has been delivered to an authorized Return-It Electronics Collection Site it will not be reused, all items collected will be recycled. For your own personal security you should take steps to ensure that no private data remains on your computer. When you recycle your end-of-life electronics every effort will be made to ensure the privacy and security of any personal information, however the Return-It System and ESABC can accept no liability for any data that remains on the computer.

Learn methods to protect your personal information before recycling here.

Methods of Data Deletion:

Hard Drive - Data Wiping

Pressing delete on your computer does not necessarily mean that information on your hard drive is permanently deleted. Traces of documents or files can potentially be recovered unless they are completely rendered unreadable by wiping or destroying the hard-drive. Here are some ways you can protect your data before sending your computer to be recycled.

If you are going to wipe your hard drive clean yourself see the RCMP Technical Security Branch Publication for a list Software & Hardware Products which appear to meet their minimum requirements for disk wiping products:

• B2-001 – Suggested DSX Replacement Products (10/2007)
  www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ts-st/

Additional information on erasing your hard drive can be found can be found on the RCBC Website, www.bcemex.ca.

Hard Drive - Physical Destruction

If you want to have your hard drive physically destroyed you can take it to Asset Investment Recovery a division of Procurement and Supply Services, BC Ministry of Labour and Supply Services, who provides this service to the general public. Asset Investment Recovery has 2 media shredders in Victoria and drop off locations in: Surrey and Victoria.

The hard drives need to be removed from the computer towers before they are brought into the Asset Investment Recovery sites. This is value-add service not paid for by the Return-It Electronics program. More information and pricing can be found at: pss.gov.bc.ca/air/media-destruction-general-public.html