Sustainability
What happens to equipment that cannot be resold?
Equipment that cannot be resold whole gives up its reusable components first, and only then is separated into material streams. Circuit boards, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics and cable copper are each routed to processors equipped for them. Nothing skips the component stage.
Stage one: component recovery
Before any unit is broken down, the reusable parts come out. In IT hardware this is a surprisingly large share: memory modules, processors, power supplies, drives, expansion cards, fans and cabling routinely outlive the machine around them.
This stage is skipped constantly in the wider industry, because it takes time. It is the difference between a recovery operation and a shredding operation.
Stage two: material separation
| Stream | Typical sources | Why separated |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit boards | Motherboards, controller and expansion cards | Highest concentration of recoverable value; needs specialised processing |
| Ferrous metals | Chassis, rails, brackets, fixings | Established recycling routes |
| Non-ferrous metals | Heatsinks, housings, connectors | Separated by metal type for value |
| Plastics | Bezels, housings, cable insulation | Separated by type where practical |
| Cable and copper | Power leads, patch cable, harnesses | High copper content; own stream |
Stage three: routing to processors
Each stream goes to a processor equipped for it. TAR does not carry out every downstream process itself and says so — where a stream requires a specialised processor, TAR works with trusted specialised partners.
What suppliers should ask
- Is component recovery performed before material separation, or is everything shredded?
- Which streams are handled in-house and which are subcontracted?
- What reporting is available, and what does it actually evidence?
TAR's answers: components are recovered first; specialised streams go to partners; reporting detail is agreed per supplier and TAR will not promise documentation it cannot produce.
The honest summary
The best outcome for equipment that "cannot be resold" is often that the assessment was wrong. A significant share of what arrives described as scrap contains working units or reusable components. That is exactly why evaluation comes before recovery, every time.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked
Is everything that cannot be resold shredded?
Not at TAR. Reusable components are recovered first, and only the remainder is separated into material streams.
What is the most valuable material in IT equipment?
Circuit boards carry the highest concentration of recoverable value, which is why they are separated as their own stream.
Does TAR recycle equipment itself?
TAR coordinates responsible handling pathways and works with specialised partners where required. TAR does not claim to be a certified processor.
Next step
Have equipment this applies to?
Send a rough list. TAR will tell you which lines are commercially interesting and which are not.
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