Back to knowledge center Introduction
As well as state-of-the-art technology, servers contain valuable,
and toxic, materials, and server owners are obliged under
current legislation to dispose of them responsibly. However,
the current reuse and recycling stages of the product lifecycle
leave a lot to be desired. This paper, based on a Master’s Thesis
conducted with EvoSwitch support by the University Utrecht,
looks at the Amsterdam Region. It argues that, at both the reuse
and recycling stages of the server lifecycle, improvements can be
made which would deliver both commercial and environmental
benefits. The principle proposed changes/subjects for further
discussion would be improved life cycle analysis and specification
development at procurement, reduced shredding and
increased dismantling/reuse at end of first owner use, and a new
trackable reuse business model which keeps valuable materials
and components in the region.