Obsolete computer gear finds new use

Daniel Bezna of Base Logistics’ Disposal Stores Warehouse, stands in front of a large industrial shredder. The shredder is used to break down some of the approximately 12,000 discarded IT and computer items Bezna handles each year. Photo Credit: BLOG

Peter Mallett
Staff Writer
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Ever wonder what happens to your workplace computer bits and bytes when they are life cycled? At CFB Esquimalt, there is a program in place to sort, assess, recycle, and whenever possible repurpose them.

Unwanted government-owned desktop computers, laptops, hard drives, monitors, printers, routers, switches, keyboards, and mice are dropped off daily at Base Logistics’ Disposal Stores Warehouse in dockyard. Daniel Bezna and other members of the disposal team then sort through the discarded equipment, segregating catalogued items into different disposition streams. Last year they handled almost 12,000 items.

“Our success is that we have nearly 100 per cent of these items recycled, reused, and disposed of properly,” says Bezna. “Less than one per cent of material is actually thrown away in our general garbage bin and that is usually plastic packaging.”

Bezna’s job is to ensure all customer’s items are properly received in the Defence Resource Management Information System. He also verifies that items are properly identified, that all DND markings are removed, and that the items contain no classified information, such as hard drives.

“Whatever comes into this room needs to be catalogued so the chain of command can keep track of it all,” he says. “Accounting for all of these items is a huge part of my job and takes up about half of my time at work.”

Finally, he chooses the disposal stream.  

Items such as monitors found to be in good working order and not technologically obsolete are cleaned and redistributed within the Department of National Defence’s (DND) western region.

Items that do not meet reusable standards for DND end up in one of four disposition streams.

DND has an agreement with Industry Canada to offer information technology items to the Computers For Schools Program via donations. Regionally, the program is operated by B.C. Technology for Learning Society. The national partnership-based program refurbishes digital devices donated from government, private business, and individuals for use in schools, libraries, not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous communities, and eligible low-income individuals. The program is funded by the Government of Canada.

If donations are not in order for particular items, they might be deemed acceptable to sell as Crown Assets though Government of Canada Surplus – www.gcsurplus.ca – who auctions off unwanted federal government assets.

Last year, 2,000 items were redirected to the Computers for Schools program, 1,500 items were sent to BC’s stewardship program as electronic waste, and 2,000 computer hard drives were shredded along with 5,700 memory sticks, tapes, CDs and other electronic file storage devices.

It’s rewarding, says Bezna, to spend his days reducing the amount of waste produced at the base, ensuring most of it doesn’t end up in the landfill.

“The job I do is certainly important in this respect as some of the materials in electronics are toxic and this effort shows the Government of Canada takes environmental stewardship very seriously,” said Bezna.

There are processes in place for discarding your unwanted IT goods. Toner, printer cartridges, mice, and keyboards can be dropped off at Disposal Stores D514 and D513 in dockyard without paperwork.

But IT assets such as computers, monitors, and hard drives must first be inspected by your unit’s Information Technology Technical Inspector (IT TI), normally requested for by your Information Technology Coordinator (ITC).

They will inspect the equipment and attach a CF942 tag, remove and classify any hard drives, and create an IT Return Certification Form.

A more in-depth procedure explanation can be found on the Intranet:
http://esquimalt.mil.ca/bsup/BLOG-MDO/MDO%20Disposal.htm

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