Why We Need Hard Drive Recycling

The information technology industry is literally bursting at the seams with ideas for how we can recycle hard drives and other computer components. One recent idea is to build a device that can securely erase the contents of a hard drive and then re-install the operating system. This idea sounds good, but how would we go about building such a machine? Fortunately, I have someone in the industry that has an answer.

Recently, I was asked to review a paper on the subject of hard drives and data recovery. The paper was written by a noted hard drive researcher, Jay Seo, Ph.D. who also is an adjunct professor at the University of California at Riverside. He routinely studies hard drive failure, data recovery, and security issues pertaining to hard drives. I was quite impressed with the breadth of his research and what he had to say about this important topic.

Dr. Seo went into great detail describing the process of hard drive recycling. In my opinion, this is an excellent idea that deserves further attention. If a university or business institution would follow Dr. Seo's advice and build a facility that would recycle hard drives it would indeed be saving the environment and money at the same time.

But why do we need hard drive recycling? What are the benefits? And, how does it work?

First, we must understand why hard drives fail. Failure is inevitable, but it can be prevented. Failure results when physical media (readers and/or writers) damage the hard drive circuitry, whether through physical mishandling, environmental factors, or virus attacks.

In order to prevent physical media failure, hard drive recycling provides a second backup. The media will still be intact and functioning normally. This will then allow the hard drives to be recycled in the event of physical media failure. The media will also still function normally and be able to function again when new media is installed. This ensures that you can have an effective backup system that doesn't require you to spend additional funds on purchasing new hard drives.

Second, hard drive recycling saves you the cost of purchasing new media. If you were to attempt to remanufacture your hard drives yourself, you would need to purchase the necessary equipment. You also would need training in the technical aspects of the repair process. A far more economical solution is to utilize a third party that already knows how to properly repair your problematic hard drive and restore your data.

Third, hard drive recycling reduces the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill. Each hard drive that is recycled results in less paper, plastic, and aluminum that end up in a landfill. These materials cannot be used again as they have been used once and are non-biodegradable. When you use media that has already been recycled, you reduce the number of materials that end up in a landfill and help to protect our environment. By using a hard drive repair company, you can help to protect the environment while making some extra money by selling your old hard drive to them.

Fourth, hard drive recycling saves you some money. Media that has been recycled may not be worth as much as it was when it first went into the trash. This is because most hard drives are not sold for a very high price. While the price may be cheaper because of the resource it's made from, it will probably not sell for as much as it would have sold for if it were new. By using recycled media, you save a lot of money and help to protect the planet at the same time.

Fifth, hard drive recycling provides a service. If your hard drive starts to stop working, you may need to seek out a professional hard drive repair service. These services will take a very skilled and knowledgeable team to your home or office and make sure that your computer is fixed and working properly. They will recondition your hard drive and return it to you brand new.

Sixth, hard drive recycle provides environmental benefit. When media from a computer is recycled, the computer is able to function more efficiently and with less effort. This is good for the environment as well as your hard drive's performance. Recycling allows you to reduce your need for new hard drive media and to reduce the impact that your hard drive has on the environment.

Finally, hard drive recycling helps you save money. If your hard drive is broken or damaged, you can often get it fixed at no cost. This can mean the difference between purchasing a new hard drive or waiting a few weeks until your hard drive is repaired.