CATEGORIZATION
CASCADE SORTS AND PROCESSES EQUIPMENT INTO ONE OF SIXTEEN CATEGORIES. FOR CLIENTS WHO ENROLL IN OUR STANDARD PROCESSING SERVICE, WE RECORD MORE DETAILED MAKE, MODEL, SERIAL NUMBER, AND OTHER TRACKING INFORMATION FOR EACH ASSET.
SERVICES INCLUDED
Changes to Product Categories, effective for items received on/after April 17, 2023
- Wireless Access Points, KVMs, and Smart Boards will move from Networking Devices to Inventoried Electronics
- IP Phones (including IP conference phones) will move from Inventoried Electronics to Bulk – let Cascade know if you want these items inventoried since they will no longer be inventoried by default
- Power Distribution Units (PDUs), fax modems, and patch panels will go into Bulk by default
- Clarification – “Zero Client Monitors” are treated as Video Display Devices
If you have any questions, please contact or customer service account manager or use our “Contact Us” page.
| Product Category | Unit of Measure | Items included in Product Category and Services Provided Items in blue or strike-out were modified as of April 17, 2023 |
| Audio/Video Equipment | Each | Processing of VCR, video projector, DVD player, DVR, video/audio editing device, stereo receiver, MP3 player that does not have WiFi capability, digital camera, game system & similar consumer electronics for Safe & Sound disposition. Media cleared of personal data. |
| Batteries | Per lb. | Processing of loose rechargeable or disposable batteries for Safe & Sound disposition. |
| Computing Device | Each | Processing of desktop computer, desktop server, thin client for Safe & Sound disposition. Includes the cost to perform a one-pass NIST 800-88 conformant wipe on resellable drives or to shred any obsolete, damaged or unsellable (as determined by customer or market) hard drives, hybrid or solid state drives in the unit. |
| Computer/Display Combo Unit | Each | Processing of computer/display combo unit, all-in-one point of sale equipment (PC, cash drawer, video display) for Safe & Sound disposition. Includes the cost to perform a one-pass NIST 800-88 conformant sanitization wipe on resellable drives or to shred any obsolete, damaged or unsellable (as determined by customer or market) hard drives in unit. |
| Handheld Mobile Device | Each | Processing of tablets, smartphones, WiFi capable mobile devices (e.g., iPod Touch), and personal digital assistants (PDAs) for Safe & Sound disposition. If devices can be reused, a data sanitization and testing fee will be deducted from the resale value prior to calculating a rebate payment to the customer. |
| Hard Drive | Each | Processing of any Hard Drive, Solid State Drive, or Hybrid Hard Disk Drive shipped loose for Safe & Sound disposition. Includes the cost to perform a one-pass NIST 800-88 conformant wipe on resellable drives or to shred any obsolete, damaged or unsellable (as determined by customer or market) hard drives. |
| Imaging Device | Each | Processing of printer, fax machine, desktop plotter, point of sale printers, desktop copier for Safe & Sound disposition. Equipment is generally <50 lbs. Includes NIST 800-88 conformant sanitization of devices to ensure data are not recoverable. Devices that are more than 50 lbs. are categoried as “Inventoried Electronics.” |
| Laptop Computer | Each | Processing of laptop computer or net book for Safe & Sound disposition. Includes the cost to perform a one-pass NIST 800-88 conformant sanitization of resellable drives or to shred any obsolete, damaged or unsellable (as determined by customer or market) hard drives in the unit. |
| Media (Inventoried) | Each | Processing of data tapes and other media traced by a unique serial or identification number for Safe & Sound disposition. NOTE – these items must be identified ahead of time for individual tracking |
| Media (Bulk) | Per lb. | Processing of CDs, floppies, confidential paper, film, memory cards, microfiche, ID cards, crushed drives, flash drives and other media not traced by any unique number for Safe & Sound disposition. |
| Network Device | Each | Processing of firewalls, hub, router, switch, modems, external codecs, and telecom devices for Safe & Sound disposition. Media cleared of all data. |
| Rack Mount Server | Each | Processing of rack mountable server shipped loose. (Servers shipped in a cabinet will be inventoried as processed in the “Inventoried Electronics” category. Includes the cost to shred any obsolete, damaged or unsellable (as determined by customer or market) hard drives or other media in the unit, or the cost to perform a one-pass NIST conformant wipe on resellable drives. |
| Medical & Specialty Equipment | Per lb. | Processing of electronic medical equipment and other specialty electronics for destruction and recycling. Items include laboratory equipment, diagnostic equipment, patient monitors, patient care equipment and appliances with refrigerant gasses. Examples include: anesthesia unit, autoclave, blood analyzer, cast system, centrifuge, concentrator, defribrillator, dialysis unit, drying oven, electrocardiograph, endoscope, freeze dryer, gas chromatograph, goinometer, glucose meter, incubator, IV pump, microscontroller, microscope, NA+/K+ analyzer, ophthalmoscope, otoscope, oxygen monitor, PH meter, pulse oximeter, sample oxidizer, shaker, spectrometer, ultrasonic cleaner, ultrasound equipment, UV transilluminator, UV disinfection system,UV meter, UV spectrophotometer, water test kit, and vitals monitor. All surfaces on each device must be decontaminated and the customer must provide evidence of decontamination. Work may be outsourced to a third party under contract with Cascade. Data destruction, if applicable, is NOT NAID Certified. |
| Video Display Device | Each | Processing of CRT or LCD monitor, television, terminal, and Zero Client monitors for Safe & Sound disposition. |
| Inventoried Electronics | Per lb. | Processing for Safe & Sound disposition of whatever does not fit into another category but can be traced by a unique serial number (not including keyboards/mice) or has been labeled by the customer for individual tracking before arrival at Cascade. Includes large photocopiers, document scanners, |
| Bulk Electronics | Per lb. | If a customer selects “bulk processing” as the sort method, then all equipment is entered into this category. If a customer selects “asset processing,” then non-serialized assets and keyboards, mice, used toner and ink cartridges, cables, USB modems, PC air cards, office supplies, key fobs, RSA tokens, docking stations, analog desk phones, IP phones (including conference phones), cell phones (without “smart-phone” capabilities), chargers, KVMs, fax modems, patch panels, loose internal PC components, consumer electronics, and other miscellaneous unmarked parts are managed under this category. Some small appliances (toasters, fans, microwave ovens, etc.) and non-traditional electronic devices may be acceptable, but please check with your customer service representative before including. |
INVENTORY SERVICES AND RESALE REBATES
Cascade can reconcile and/or record inventory details on any asset it processes. We record and track the make, model, serial number, corporate asset tag number and up to two other user-defined fields from receipt to final disposition and settlement. When assets are inventoried, you will receive detailed receipt and disposition reports that enable you to comply with privacy protection and corporate asset management regulatory requirements. If you are subject to HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, FACTA, FERPA or other similar regulations, then this level of reporting is essential to maintain compliance.
PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION OF MEDIA
As part of our normal process, Cascade will either electronically sanitize and/or physically destroy all hard drives and other media compliant with NIST Guidelines for Media Sanitization Special Publication 800-88. The process for media destruction will be listed on the Customer Account Information Form and disclosed through the Certificate of Destruction and Disposition Report.
- NIST 800-88 Clear or Purge of hard drives, SSDs and flash media (NAID Certified)
- DoD 5220.22-M 3 pass sanitization of hard drives (NAID Certified)
- Onsite hard drive, SSD, and flash media crushing and physical destruction (NAID Certified)
- Onsite tape and hard drive degaussing (Not NAID Certified)
COLLECTION AND FREIGHT SERVICES
Cascade will provide secure collection and hauling of customer equipment using our own vehicles and professional, background checked staff. The cost for pickups shall be established for each customer location.
INBOUND PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS
Cascade product categories (above) are generally classified into the following e-Stewards types of Electronic Equipment:
Hazardous Electronic Waste (HEW) – See definition in the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling
- Anything with a rechargeable or lead-acid battery: Audio/Video Equipment (batteries in cameras and portable devices); Batteries; Computing Devices (with embedded Lithium metal batteries); Computer/Display Combo Unit (with embedded Lithium metal batteries); Handheld Mobile Device (with embedded and removable rechargeable batteries); Imaging Devices (with embedded batteries); Laptop Computers (with embedded batteries); Medical & Specialty Equipment (may contain batteries); and, Inventoried & Bulk Electronics (may contain batteries).
- Cathode Ray Tubes: Medical & Specialty Equipment (may contain CRTs); Video Display Devices (TVs and monitors with CRTs); and, Inventoried & Bulk Electronics (may contain CRTs).
- Devices with Circuit Boards: Nearly all electronics contain circuit boards, and these boards often include lead solder and many other heavy metals that can be hazardous when improperly managed. Circuit boards are found in Audio/Video Equipment, Computing Devices, Computer/Display Combo Unit, Handheld Mobile Device, Hard Drives, Imaging Devices, Laptop Computers, Medical & Specialty Equipment, Network Devices, Rack Mount Servers, Video Display Devices, and, Inventoried & Bulk Electronics.
- Items with Mercury: Cascade typically handles mercury found in Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFLs) that are present in many Video Display Devices (many LCD monitors and flat panel televisions) and Laptops. They may also be found in Imaging Devices (copiers and scanners) or other Inventoried Electronics that include CCFL lamps. Mercury may also be present in older batteries or in ampules or switches found on older circuit boards.
- Items with Selenium & Arsenic: Printer or Copier drums (Imaging Devices) may contain selenium and LED lights in light sources found in Video Display Devices and Handheld Mobile Devices may contain gallium arsenide.
- Plastics listed on VIII or Annex II of the Basel Convention.
- Other hazardous items, like those with asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, or radioactive materials.
Problematic Components & Materials (PCMs) – See definition in Section 3.3.5 in e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling, Version 3.0:
- Alkaline batteries
- Gylcol coolants: typically found in projection TVs
- Ink and toner cartridges: loose or in printers
- Plastics with halogens: plastics and products with plastics that contain certain flame retardants
Other Acceptable Materials or Products – Cascade also accepts other types of electronics, parts, and related supplies for processing.
- Cables, cords
- Server and A/V Cabinets
- Metal parts and accessories (copper, iron)
- Paper, CDs, Tapes and other media without circuit boards
- Recyclable packaging used for shipping electronics
Contact us if you have questions about whether we accept other types of materials.
Materials or Products not acceptable – Cascade is not set up to handle the following types of equipment:
- Nonconforming Equipment: See our list of items with hazardous materials or contaminants that Cascade cannot safely handle.
- Solid Waste: Please refrain from sending Cascade trash and materials that otherwise wouldn’t be recyclable by us or anyone else.
OUTBOUND PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS
Cascade and its approved refurbishers may be able to test, sanitize, repair and refurbish received Electronic Equipment and resell, donate or redeploy these devices as tested, working products. If items cannot be reused, Cascade and its recycling partners process these materials by disassembly or shredding to generate materials for recovery or disposal. These materials are further classified into one of three categories by e-Stewards, which helps determine appropriate recycling, treatment and disposal options.
- Hazardous Electronic Waste (HEW): These materials may contain any of the hazards listed above. Cascade generates the following commodity materials classified by e-Stewards as HEWs: batteries (lead acid, NiCd, Lithium metal, Li-ion, NiMH), items with circuit boards that may have lead solder (various grades of boards, memory and processors; keyboards and mice; cell phones without batteries or storage media; shredded hard drives; printers without ink/toner or storage media; laptop bases without batteries or storage media; power supplies; charger adapters; floppy/optical drives; docking stations; fan assemblies; a/v equipment; and medical devices); cathode ray tubes; and CCFL lamps. It is important to note that while the e-Stewards standard identifies these materials as HEWs, they are not necessarily classified as “Hazardous Wastes” by regulatory authorities. Depending on jurisdictions and the concentrations of hazardous substances in these products, laws may classify these materials as “Universal Wastes” or “Solid Wastes.”
- Problematic Components and Materials (PCMs): These materials are determined by e-Stewards to require special controls and attention due to their desired recyclability or because of the potential environmental and occupational risks that may arise from handling them. The PCMs Cascade generates include: alkaline batteries, glycol coolants (mainly from projection TVs), ink and toner, and plastics with halogenated flame retardants.
- Non-Hazardous E-Waste: Cascade generates many different ferrous and non-ferrous metals and materials with these metals and other non-hazardous waste including: aluminum, copper, copper wire, copper yokes from CRTs, aluminum or copper degaussing wire, non-halogenated plastics, and wood.
- Cascade is happy to share information about all its downstream processors. Contact us to receive a copy of our Self Audit Packet which lists all the materials we generate and the flow of these items throughout the recycling chain.
The information provided on this page describes Cascade’s Reuse/Recover/Dispose Hierarchy Policy” that shows how we identify and manage collected IT assets optimally within the waste management hierarchy. It was last reviewed by Cascade’s CEO on 7-25-2022.