If you’ve ever opened a storage closet and spotted a pile of old laptops, mystery cables, or that one printer no one’s touched in years—you’re not alone. Outdated electronics have a way of sticking around. Not because you don’t care but because figuring out what to do with them can be surprisingly complicated.

That’s where responsible recycling comes in—and where good preparation makes all the difference. Whether your team is rolling out a new round of devices or decommissioning racks of servers, how you prep your electronics before recycling has a major impact on data security, environmental compliance, and overall value recovery.
Here’s a clear, human-first guide to help you get it right.

Step 1: Back Up and Protect Data

Each device holds a wealth of information—from files and emails to internal tools—often accumulated over several years. Before your device leaves your facility, ensure you back up any crucial data.

Once your important data is backed up, it’s a good practice to initiate a factory reset through your operating system, especially if the drive is not encrypted. This step helps clear personal information and settings from tablets and smartphones before they are handed over to TAMS for professional data destruction.

Regardless of your preliminary efforts, TAMS operates with precision to ensure complete data eradication:

1. NAID AAA-Certified & R2v3 Data Destruction: Our services comply with the highest level of industry certifications, assuring best-in-class destruction techniques.
2. Comprehensive Auditing: Third-party audits verify our adherence to industry standards, providing additional peace of mind.
3. Advanced Data-Wiping Processes: Our overwrite solutions make data recovery impossible.
4. Physical Destruction: By crushing and shredding hard drives, we ensure absolute data obliteration, rendering devices unusable.
5. Secure Chain of Custody: Our meticulous tracking process safeguards your device from unauthorized access throughout the destruction process.
6. Certificate of Destruction: TAMS provides a Certificate of Destruction, confirming thorough data eradication and meeting all regulatory requirements.

With TAMS, you have confidence that your data is not only erased but completely destroyed, ensuring your sensitive information remains secure and confidential.

Step 2: Remove Remote Management Tools

Before recycling, ensure that all remote management tools such as Apple DEP, Apple Activation Lock, and Microsoft Autopilot are removed from applicable devices. This step is crucial for maximizing the value of your assets as it prevents any future management or activation issues for the new owner. Follow the specific procedures provided by each platform to deregister your devices properly. If you have any questions about this process, your account manager can help.

Step 3: Review Your Records

If your company uses asset tags, barcodes, or serial tracking, this is your checkpoint. Make sure your inventory is up to date, tags are scanned or removed, and each device is accounted for.
This isn’t just admin. It ensures nothing slips through the cracks—especially if your industry is regulated or your IT team needs an audit trail. At TAMS, we offer real-time inventory tracking through a secure customer portal. You’ll know where your equipment is, how it’s being processed, and when you’ll receive your documentation.

Step 4: Choose a Certified Partner

When it comes to electronics recycling, who you trust matters, anyone can promise to recycle your gear. Not everyone can guarantee data protection, environmental compliance, or full revenue recovery.

TAMS holds certifications that aren’t just for show:

• NAID AAA for data destruction
• R2v3 for responsible recycling
• ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 9001 for environmental, safety, and quality systems

We’ve also built a reputation for helping clients get more back. Our buyers pay more—often 10–25% more—because we process and present equipment thoroughly. That means the tech you use holds more value when it leaves our hands.

Step 5: Ask for the Paperwork

You need proof. Your compliance officer needs proof. Sometimes, your clients or auditors will want it too. That’s why we always provide:

• A Certificate of Destruction
• An asset tracking report
• An environmental compliance summary

You won’t need to chase us down for it—it’s part of the service. Just log into your portal or ask your rep.

What It All Boils Down To

Recycling electronics is more than a cleanup task. It’s a security measure. A compliance requirement. A chance to recover value—and do right by the planet.

Here’s a quick recap of what to do before recycling:

• Back up & protect data
• Remove Remote Management Tools
• Review asset records
• Partner with a certified recycler

And if you want help from a team that’s done this for over two decades—securely, reliably, and with full transparency—we’re ready.

Let’s Get Started

If you’re clearing out storage or planning a full IT refresh, you don’t have to go it alone. Get a quote from TAMS, and let’s build a recycling plan that fits your goals—and exceeds your expectations.