The abrupt exit of Arrow Electronics from the IT asset disposition (ITAD) industry has left Arrow Electronics customers scrambling to find a new ITAD service provider.

If you are a former Arrow Electronics customer, are you doing your own research to compare ITAD vendors? SLS, as a leader in the ITAD industry, also offers a couple of quick checks to also consider in initial ITAD vendor comparisons.

Check industry certifications

While industry certifications are no guarantee of performance, if a vendor has few or no certifications, you should be concerned. This potential red flag is important, particularly if you represent a large company with significant regulatory and corporate compliance requirements.

Certifications are a baseline comparison point between different ITAD and recycling vendors. Without certifications it can be difficult to confirm that ITAD and e-recycling facilities are responsibly managed, adhere to local, regional and federal regulations and demonstrate best industry practices. The most common certifications are:

  • R2, WEEELABEX and e-Stewards, which are industry specific certifications.
  • ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 45001 and ISO 9001, which are common environmental, health, safety and quality certifications.
  • ISO 27001, which is important if audit trails and security are important to you.

More detailed information about ITAD and e-waste certifications can be found on our website.

Look beyond location dots on a map

If you are responsible for managing the disposition of assets from multiple company offices, moving assets from your office to an ITAD facility can be a significant cost driver. You will want to understand where your equipment will be processed, whether that means reuse, recycling or data destruction services. Don’t be fooled by vendor maps that show logistics hubs. Some vendors represent these hubs as a processing location. But this doesn’t tell the full story and may not enable you to estimate logistics and transportation costs. How closely your company locations line up to a vendor’s locations can indirectly indicate a more streamlined program as transportation of assets is minimized. This is important for in-country transportation. When assets are moved across country boundaries, the landscape becomes much more complicated. Make sure you understand each company’s capabilities and where their ITAD processing facilities are located.

Do you need help in how to write an ITAD RFP?

You may find our ITAD RFP Template useful as you look for a replacement for Arrow Electronics. SLS stands ready to support you as you replace Arrow Electronics as your IT asset disposition company.