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Environmental Policies
Our general environmental policy, e-waste policy & e-waste disposal procedure to help towards reducing pollution.
Cyberkite Environmental Policy
Updated: 2-10-2021
1. Environmental Awareness
(a) We at Cyberkite see protecting the environment as part of our core values. In taking measures such as those outlined below, we aim to continue to reduce our environmental footprint. We recognise that our business has a corporate social responsibility to enhance the environment and promote the long term sustainability of the Information Technology industry. We aim to inspire our staff, vendors and clients to do the same.
2. In this policy, Cyberkite commits to:
(a) Understanding and managing our environmental risks with the goal of minimising or eliminating those risks
(b) Ensuring the environment is considered in our investment and corporate strategies, procurement and the products and services we offer
(c) Actively working to minimise pollution, manage waste streams and address relevant biodiversity issues
(d) Engaging with our customers, employees and shareholder on environmental issues and transparently reporting on our environmental performance
(e) Providing all employees with the training and education necessary to meet our objectives
(f) Complying with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements
(g) Cyberkite staff must refer to the e-waste recyclers list at the top of the page to find the nearest relevant provider. Regularly review environmental objectives and targets
(h) Openly communicate our policies and practices to interested and approved parties
(i) To monitor and record our environmental impacts on a regular basis and compare our performance with set policies, objectives and targets.
3. Our Policy
(a) Our environmental policy reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability and our precautionary approach. It also demonstrates our awareness that our actions are important for our clients, our employees and our business performance.
4. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
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(a) Cyberkite commits to reducing our waste products, purchasing reusable products wherever possible and recycling relevant products.
(b) Cyberkite commits to providing an up to date list of e-waste recyclers.
(c) Cyberkite commits to constantly be on the look out to sell products with brands that are environmentally conscious wherever possible.
5. Toxics reduction
(a) Cyberkite commits to reducing any toxic materials to protect employee health and the environment.
If you have any questions in relation to this policy or its application please contact us.
E-waste Policy
Updated: 2-10-2021
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This policy outlines how Cyberkite handles E-waste disposal including computers, printers, other IT devices, electrical appliances, mobile devices, printer cartridges, printer ink, paper, cardboard and etc. It governs how we handle E-waste after we deploy IT & Cybersecurity products & solutions to clients and how we handle it ourselves.
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1. What is e-waste?
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(a) According to Sustainability Victoria, "E-waste (electronic waste) refers to any item with a plug, battery or cord that is no longer working or wanted. From your phone to your fridge, your laptop to your electric lawnmower, it covers a whole range of items from work, home and even the garden shed". Learn more.
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(b) According to Sustainability Victoria, Australians are amongst the highest users and disposers of technology! E-waste – or electronic waste – is growing three times faster than the rate of standard municipal waste. It contains many potentially hazardous and valuable materials, which don't belong in landfill. Here are some statistics:
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In 2008, 106,000 tonnes of televisions, computers and computer products reached end of life in Australia. By 2013, this volume had grown to 138,000 tonnes. Without significant measures to reduce it, this figure will grow to approximately 223,000 tonnes in 2023-24.
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In Victoria Australia, it is estimated that a total of about 109,000 tonnes of e-waste were generated in 2015. This volume is projected to increase to about 256,000 tonnes by 2035.
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2. Purpose or recycling​
(a) Reduces landfill - production e-waste contains hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), flame retardants and more. Millions of e-waste items are dumped in landfill or stored inappropriately making Australia's trash problem unsustainable.
(b) It’s better for the environment - production e-waste contains hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), flame retardants and more. Even in small amounts, these dangerous chemicals can cause environmental contamination into our groundwater, soil, and air. As these substances, do not break down easily, the result can be long term environmental pollution.
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(c) It contains rare and materials - rare and valuable materials that are hard to mine and are often the source of conflicts can be reused rather than mined.
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(d) Reduces manufacturing pollution - production techniques require emissions and generate toxic chemicals even with best measures can escape. So it's good to recycle e-waste to avoid overproduction of these products.
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3. Responsibility to recycle e-waste
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(a) It shall be the social responsibility of Cyberkite staff and customers to work together to recycle e-waste and comply with state laws depending on who is disposing, client or Cyberkite.
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(b) Best options to recycle e-waste must be selected to ensure as much e-waste is recovered as possible.
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(c) Cyberkite staff must refer to the e-waste recyclers list at the top of the page to find the nearest relevant provider. If customers are doing it themselves, then they must comply with state and federal laws and recycle e-waste.
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E-waste disposal procedure
Updated: 2-10-2021
Cyberkite undertakes the following e-waste handling procedures and encourages our clients to follow these as well if they are doing it themselves. Privacy, cybersecurity and proper disposal of e-waste and electronic perishables is important. This procedure will help simplify it.
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Computers
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Book a pickup or drop off at nearest relevant e-waste recycler.
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Backup all personal data from computer onto an external USB stick or hard drive or save onto a cloud drive like Google Drive or OneDrive.
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Uninstall paid 3rd party software licence seats that might be tied to that computer, so those seats are not tied to this computer. This includes documenting or locating any software licence keys for that software that might be stuck on the computers body, in emails or as a printed packaging (provided you kept it). This will be handy when setting up your new computer.
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Restore computer back to factory settings:
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Mac / Macbook including additional tasks​
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Chromebook including additional tasks
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If not reselling, wipe the hard drive using military grade deletion standards software or physically drill a hole in the hard drive. Some recyclers offer this as a free or paid service or you can book Cyberkite to do it onsite securely.
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Chromebook - not necessary, cloud based storage.
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Remove all asset tags or details form the outside of the computer. Some recyclers offer that as service free or as a paid option or you can book Cyberkite to do it onsite securely.
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Phones & Tablets
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Book a pickup or drop off at nearest relevant e-waste recycler, one of the good ones is MobileMuster and Officeworks.
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Save important stuff not already synced and put them into a cloud drive app like Google Drive or OneDrive or iCloud.
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Learn more about Apple iphone or iPad backup options
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Learn more about Android
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phone or tablet backup options
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Deregister any tied apps or settings
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Apple​
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Android - doesn't require any special deregistration as its cloud based settings.
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Remove all asset tags or details form the outside of the phone or tablet. Some recyclers offer that as service free or as a paid option or you can book Cyberkite to do it onsite securely.
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External Storage Devices
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An external storage device can plug into computers, some Android phones and tablets. It can be a USB memory stick, SD memory card, or USB or other type of externally pluggable hard drive. If you're decommissioning these devices it's important to ensure you backup and erase data on them before disposal. You can perform this or or you can book Cyberkite to do it onsite securely if you have have a few of them.
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Plug the external storage device to a computer into a compatible port
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Copy all data from the memory device to the hard drive on the computer and then onto another memory device or a cloud service such as OneDrive or Google Drive.
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Once copied the data, format the drive using basic formatting:
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Then perform a DoD military grade formatting which passes over several times to prevent data recovery:​
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If you cannot be bothered to spend the time of performing a DoD Military 7 wipe pass then physically destroy the hard drive - some recyclers offer that as service free or as a paid option or you can book Cyberkite to do it onsite securely.
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Military format of storage device on PC - Download cCleaner Portable and run it. Then go to Tools > Drive Wiper > insert storage device & in Drive Wiper select Wipe: select Entire Drive.. & Security: Select Complex Overwrite (7 passes) & tick the drive you want to erase - remember careful here - don't wipe the system or other important drive & select Wipe button. Depending on the size of the drive, this will take some time. ​
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Military format of storage device on Mac -
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Military format of storage device on Chromebook -
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Connectivity / Network Devices
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Erase data from those devices.
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Other Devices
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Erase data from those devices.
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Ink & Printer Cartridges
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We deposit any cartridges ink and waste bottles into local Cartridges 4 PlanetArk boxes in local OfficeWorks stores.
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Paper & Cardboard
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We put all paper and cardboard packaging from purchased new IT equipment to recycling bins at client properties and in our office.
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If your have any enquiries related to this procedure or feedback please contact us.
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