GreenTek’s Successful Asset Liquidation for a Retailer in the Southern United States

When a retailer in the southern United States faced bankruptcy, their IT Director was tasked with the daunting challenge of removing, transporting, and disposing of 10,000 IT assets spread across 1,000 stores within a one-year deadline. This task was complicated by the need to recapture as much of their initial IT investment as possible to cover banking expenses from the bankruptcy. Furthermore, the company’s environmentally conscious policies required a guarantee that none of the assets would end up in a landfill, and their data security policies necessitated secure handling and disposal of data-sensitive assets.

1. Logistical Complexity: Coordinating the removal of 10,000 IT assets from 1,000 locations within the timeline.
2. Data Security: Ensuring secure handling and disposal of data-heavy assets.
3. Environmental Responsibility: Guaranteeing that none of the assets would end up in a landfill.
4. Environmental Responsibility: Maximizing Value: Recapturing the maximum possible value from the IT assets to cover bankruptcy expenses.

With only one month before the first load of equipment was scheduled to be released, GreenTek and the client connected to discuss the scope of the project. With an agreement in place and the one-year deadline getting closer every day, GreenTek developed a custom IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) strategy and got to work.

1. Centralized Asset Collection:
   • GreenTek centralized all non-data center items within ten strategically chosen hubs to streamline packing and pickup.
2. Onsite Data Center Support:
   • GreenTek went onsite to the client’s data centers, removed equipment from racks, prepared items for shipment, and secured data-containing items in locked containers transported by GPS-monitored trucks.
3. Secure Transportation:
   • Assets were picked up from the ten centralized locations and data centers, ensuring careful handling to prevent damage during transport.
4. Detailed Inventory and Data Erasure:
   • At GreenTek headquarters, a detailed inventory was taken of every item, recording make, model, serial number, and condition.
   • Data-containing items were placed in secure cages for testing and data erasure, with each destruction or erasure service serialized. The client received extensive reports verifying all data was effectively destroyed.
5. Testing and Evaluation:
   • All assets underwent GreenTek’s detailed testing and evaluation process to determine their suitability for resale or recycling.
6. Sustainable Recycling and Resale:
   • Assets were either safely recycled according to R2v3 standards or GreenTek made a competitive offer to the retailer.
7. ERP Software for Real-time Tracking:
   • GreenTek’s proprietary ERP software provided the client with real-time access to the status of every asset and a single source for all data destruction certificates and reports.

1. Value Recaptured:
   • GreenTek successfully produced $260K in recovered value while covering all ITAD costs.
2. Data Security Ensured:
   • An effective data destruction and reporting process ensured all data was permanently and irreversibly erased.
3. Environmental Impact:
   • GreenTek held true to their zero-landfill policy, managing 84tons of material and extending the lifespan of thousands of assets through refurbishing.
   • This ITAD project reduced 234,006.35lbs of greenhouse emissions, diverted almost 5,000lbs of toxic metals from landfills, and avoided the equivalent of 210,120,318kWh of electricity being consumed.

Despite the retailer no longer being in business, the successful partnership between GreenTek and the retailer’s IT Director resulted in the IT Director continuing to collaborate with GreenTek at a new company. This case study highlights GreenTek’s quality, commitment, and capabilities in providing comprehensive and environmentally responsible IT asset liquidation services.

If your company is reducing their IT inventory, closing operations or you’re looking for an all-in-one ITAD provider, get in touch with our team now to learn how we can help!