How to recycle and re-purpose magnetic media (computer tapes):

Back in the 1960’s, new storage devices for backup were introduced to replace punch cards.  These devices used magnetic media also known as computer tape and since that time the industry has seen continual increases in capacity and changes to media formats.  As backup technology has advanced so has the magnetic media leaving in its wake a massive amount of old magnetic media.   For years Government and Commercial entities alike have destroyed their old tape and the resulting waste is dumped into our landfills.  Before destroying the tape, however, commonly they need, or are required, to securely destroy and validate the destruction of the data content on the tapes.   That costs extra.

Safe, secure, environmentally friendly asset recovery

Source reduction, including reuse, can help reduce waste disposal and handling costs.  There are some companies available who will repurpose your tapes and legitimately destroy and certify the destruction of the DATA before they sell the tapes.  Trius Technologies partners with Infinity Data Solutions for these services.  There is real value in maintaining, trading, and upgrading your magnetic tape.  As one company or agency upgrades to a higher capacity, another company or agency may be upgrading to the tape being replaced.  We can recycle, degauss, and destroy your old tape and if you are purchasing new tape, we may be able to offer you a discount against the trade-in of your present media.

“There is a secure form of data destruction that complies with Sarbannes Oxley, HIPAA, Bank Secrecy Act, City, County and Federal Organizations such as DOD that is almost entirely green and provides them with more security without shredding, incineration or other common non–green practices,” explains Jack Cruz of Infinity Data Solutions.

Data Eradication by Volser

If erasing is a concern, we provide safe and secure options that can go as far as to meet the Department of Defense Standard 5220.22-M for data clearing and sanitization including a detailed Statement of Work .  Infinity Data Solutions’ Data Eradication services guarantee secure and unprecedented safeguards and redundancies ensuring all data is safely and securely eradicated.  The audit process provides a final archive document that details the date, location, and eradication procedure for each Volser number. Audit’s are performed at your facility, Infinity Data Solutions facility, and most importantly, a final audit after data eradication.

Tape Buyback and Recycling

In many instances there is value to your old media tape. As you migrate to new platforms consider an environmentally responsible alternative to destroying your old media. Again, Infinity Data Solutions provides safe and secure options that can go as far as meeting the Department of Defense Standard 5220.22-M for data clearing and sanitization.  Recycle your old magnetic media with full confidence that complete and thorough data eradication is performed. Tape buyback allows recovering value in your old assets and converting outdated technology into resources for new tape and equipment.  The process includes a detailed Statement of Work for Data Eradication and Secure Transport.

Benefits of Reduction

The benefits of preventing waste go beyond reducing reliance on other forms of waste disposal. Preventing waste also can mean economic savings for communities, businesses, schools, and individual consumers.

Benefits of Recycling

* Recycling protects and expands U.S. manufacturing jobs and increases U.S. competitiveness.

* Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration.

* Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials.

* Recycling saves energy.

* Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.

* Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.

* Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.

Purchasing Recycled Products

Purchasing recycled products completes the recycling loop. By “buying recycled,” governments, as well as businesses and individual consumers, each play an important role in making the recycling process a success. As consumers demand more environmentally sound products, manufacturers will continue to meet that demand by producing high-quality recycled products. Learn more about recycling terminology and to find tips on identifying recycled products.

The latest version of Greenpeace’s Cool IT Leaderboard reveals how some global IT companies are leading the industry by proving the potential of IT solutions to address climate change and reshape energy use, while others seem unable to decide if IT climate solutions are a significant business opportunity or a simple marketing strategy.

Cisco vaults to the top of the Leaderboard, doubling its score from the previous version by demonstrating the effectiveness of its greenhouse emissions-saving solutions such as smart grid technology and office energy management. Ericsson debuts at second place, on the strength of its real world case studies, which measure how its solutions are driving down emissions.

“To play a significant role in helping make sure global greenhouse gas emissions peak by 2015, IT companies need to deliver upon the promise that their technology can provide substantial climate savings today,” said Greenpeace Campaigner Casey Harrell.  “Leaders such as Cisco are actively investing in climate solutions, while others are merely signaling  commitments, hoping that lofty words are as good as action.”

Greenpeace’s assessment showcases examples of IT solutions leadership including:

–Cisco: aggressively moving to drive smart grid technology and has demonstrated the significant impact of its solutions offerings in reducing energy consumption through office design and energy management.

–Google: its PowerMeter tool provides real time energy consumption information allowing consumers to take action and reduce energy use. It is also demonstrating strong policy advocacy to require utilities to make smart meter data available in real time.

–Ericsson and Fujitsu: both have developed a strong methodology for measuring net impact of their solutions, which is essential for evaluating the impact of IT on a broad scale. Fujitsu is also the first company to set a credible goal for the overall amount of carbon savings provided to its customers.

Perhaps no company demonstrates IT’s potential to make a difference while also representing the industry’s significant contribution to climate change (4) more than Google. Ranked sixth, Google remains the top scoring company on political advocacy, having put forward a clear vision for moving to a clean energy economy. Google CEO Eric Schmidt has been vocal on the failure of the current political system to get the policies right to drive transformative investment in clean energy technologies.

However, Google has no emission reduction targets, nor does it release or disclose its own emissions. This lack of transparency puts Google significantly out of step with most other technology companies, and weakens its ability to be an effective advocate.

“Google and other IT companies can help shape policies to rapidly deploy IT solutions to help slow and reverse climate change, while increasing their revenue and growing in a more responsible way,” said Harrell. “The company bottom line coupled with the environmental bottom line, the need to curb a growing greenhouse gas emissions, should send the IT industry to the front lines in the battle for a clean energy economy. The sector needs to step up its policy advocacy now.”

For more information on Greenpeace’s rankings and on their “Cool IT” program, please visit: http://www.greenpeace.org/coolit/