FAQ

At Computer Disposal Specialist of CA, Inc., we've done our best to create a Web site that anticipates and satisfies our customers' needs. With that goal in mind, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions. If you do not find an answer to your question here, contact us at 760-744-6298 or info@cdsca-inc.com.

[SALES]

• How big does our company need to be in order to utilize your company’s services?
• How does using your services save our company money?
• Why can’t we just take our computers to the landfill?
• How much does your service cost?
• Which areas in California do you serve?
• There are some companies that will not charge to remove our equipment, why are you charging a fee?
• Can we ship our items to you?

[CUSTOMER SERVICE]

• When were these laws and regulations passed?
• What types of equipment do you accept?
• What is ZAP^TM?
• We have an urgent need, do you offer same day services?
• How do we get started?

[SALES]

How big does our company need to be in order to utilize your company’s services?

• Answer: Your company can be any size to use our services. However, if you are a small company with less than 3 computers/items, we recommend rounding up some of your neighbors. The more people that we can pickup items from in your area, the more we can reduce or eliminate the pickup fees associated with a small pickup.

How does using your services save our company money?

• Answer: Doing it yourself can cost you over $400 per system to dispose. Consider these facts:
• Administrative tasks (inventory, forms, accounting, etc.)
• Destroying sensitive company data and customer records stored on the hard drives in compliance with the Department of Defense standards
• Storage costs until the equipment is removed
• Packing and shipping
• Disposal fee(s)
• Potential injury to your employee if they removed heavy computer equipment
• Identity theft if disposed in a landfill

Why can’t we just take our computers to the landfill?

• Answer: There are two main problems with this process...
• The Electronics Waste Recycling Act of 2003 prohibits the disposal of any computer and monitor in undesignated areas, such as landfills. When the equipment is traced back to you, you can face heavy fines and penalties, including jail time. AT&T was fined over $195,000 for the improper disposal of their computers and a University was fined $25,000 for each incident of improper disposal of their computer monitors!
• Some landfills will take your items, however, they will not take title, will not sanitize your hard drives, will not remove the asset tags, and will not provide you with any assurances that the items will not be traced back to you. You are still responsible for where your equipment ends up and any information that is mined for malicious purposes.

How much does your service cost?

• Answer: We provide fixed price service. This means we charge a flat rate per item. While others will quote you one way, they will charge you something much different.

Which areas in California do you serve?

• Answer: We service the Southern California area, from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

There are some companies that will not charge to remove our equipment, why are you charging a fee?

• Answer: Most disposal service companies that do not charge a fee, make their money from the resale of your equipment. This poses three severe problems for your company:
• They will not take the time necessary to ensure that your sensitive data, customer records, or tags are removed before they dispose of the items. Which increases your risk of facing a penalty for illegal disposal of your equipment.
• Any item that is “not profitable” will be sent directly to the trash!  Which means that your items are illegally “dumped” and you are liable!
• Since these service companies do not take title to your items, they can dispose of your unprocessed equipment in Asia, where workers are manually dismantling the computers in unhealthy conditions! This increases the risk that your company can face negative publicity and penalties when your items are found. See the photo below.  

Caption: Woman about to smash a cathode ray tube from a computer monitor in order to remove the copper laden yoke at the end of the funnel. The glass is laden with lead but the biggest hazard from this is the inhalation of the highly toxic phosphor dust coating inside. Monitor glass is later dumped in irrigation canals and along the river where it leaches lead into the groundwater. The groundwater in Guiyu is completely contaminated to the point where fresh water is trucked in constantly for drinking purposes. Guiyu, China. December 2001. Copyright Basel Action Network.

Caption: Just some of the many labels found on computers and monitors which indicated to investigators where each load of computers originated. Guiyu, China. December 2001. Copyright Basel Action Network.