When a company changes or upgrades its IT equipment and systems it often receives requests from employees to have one of the 'old ones'. This seems harmless enough, after all it is of no use to you now and it would avoid disposal costs. But the reality of administrating this donation, data security, and of course the software licenses soon becomes apparent. The costs for Donation can soon add up to hundreds of pounds.

A more in depth view of this practice soon highlights much more important issues. That of LIABILITY. First of all there is product liability. Can you be sure of the electrical safety of each item you are donating ? and its cables and peripherals? Does your company's insurance cover you for the sale or donation of used electrical equipment? Is the equipment compliant ? and does it meet fitness for purpose? But most of all is the issue of Employer's Liability.

As an employer you are solely responsible for the health and safety of your employees. If you chose to donate or sell IT equipment to an employee you are responsible for all aspects of health and safety relating to the equipment you have sold or given them. So should an employee hurt themselves whilst lifting the equipment into or out of their car or maybe electrocute themselves whilst setting up at home, YOU are potentially responsible.

All equipment passed through Purvers Asset Management for Donation is subject to our stringent safety inspection and tests. We prepare the item for donation and check that it is working properly and safely, we can even deliver and install the equipment into the new premises. We can liase direct with the donation Reciever and we will take care of all liabilities and support issues. We can even go to their house and deliver / install the equipment for you to minimize the risks.

What happens when your computer hardware is at the end of its life?

You may think you have three options. You can give it away. You can sell it. Or you can throw it away.

To give it away or to re-sell it has legal strings attached and comes with many liabilities as mentioned previously. The same applies if you wish to sell it and the WEEE Directive makes it illegal to throw it away, this is because disposing of your PCs in a landfill site will allow harmful substances to work their way into the water supply. PCs contain CFCs and carcinogenic and toxic heavy metals such as Cadmium and Lead, for this reason the WEEE Directive was empowered.

So as you can see it can get very complicated indeed in a mist of Libilities and Government waste legislation all of which come with the corporate fear of prosecution and financial penalties. We at Purvers Asset ManagemenT can take all these problems away.

We can manage your donations through from collection of the old units, refurbishment if required, safety checks and delivery / installation, the complete donation soloution completely removing all liabilities from you.

One point to mention is that if you currently have a waste disposal agent that is removing your IT equipment, how are they disposing of it ? if they are fly tipping it because they are being turned away at the landfill with electronic equipment on board if it is, your company will be held responsible .

Purvers Asset Management can guide you safely through this legal minefield.

To comply with 'duty of care' responsibilities we ensure that IT equipment is disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner by breaking down truly obsolete equipment and reselling components for spare parts. We also dispose of hazardous elements in accordance with current environmental legislation.