Data Handling & Recycling Policy

Palmy Tech Recycling
Last Updated: 20 October 2026

1. Our Commitment

Palmy Tech Recycling is committed to responsible electronic waste management and protecting customer information.

We provide electronic waste collection and IT equipment recycling services for businesses, offices, schools and organisations throughout Palmerston North and the Manawatū Region.

Our services focus on responsible equipment collection, Secure Data Erasure, equipment reuse, refurbishment and recycling.

Protecting customer data is an essential part of our electronic recycling service.

2. Our 100% Data Destruction Guarantee

Palmy Tech Recycling provides a 100% Data Destruction Guarantee for all accepted data-bearing equipment.

This means that every accepted data-bearing storage device will undergo completed Secure Data Erasure or physical destruction.

We use specialist data-erasure software and equipment to securely process collected storage media.

Where data cannot be securely erased, the relevant storage media will be physically destroyed.

Our guarantee covers accepted data-bearing equipment, including:

• Desktop computers.
• Laptops and workstations.
• Servers.
• Hard disk drives (HDDs).
• Solid-state drives (SSDs).
• Network-attached storage equipment.
• Mobile devices and tablets.
• USB storage devices and memory cards.
• Other electronic equipment containing data-storage media.

All accepted data-bearing storage will undergo the required security processing before entering reuse or general recycling pathways.

We guarantee that collected equipment containing untreated customer data will not be released for reuse or resale.

3. Secure Data Erasure

Palmy Tech Recycling provides Secure Data Erasure as part of its standard IT equipment collection service.

We use third-party specialist data-erasure software designed to securely remove stored information from supported devices.

Our Secure Data Erasure process includes:

• Identifying data-bearing storage media.
• Using appropriate specialist software to securely erase stored information.
• Confirming successful completion of the erasure process.
• Recording completed erasure or destruction activities.
• Providing Data Destruction Certificates when requested.

Simple file deletion or an ordinary factory reset is not treated as sufficient evidence of Secure Data Erasure unless the method meets the appropriate sanitisation requirements for the storage technology.

Where secure erasure cannot be successfully completed, the storage media will be physically destroyed.

4. Physical Destruction of Storage Media

Where data cannot be reliably erased, Palmy Tech Recycling will securely destroy the relevant data-storage media.

Physical destruction may apply to:

• Damaged hard drives.
• Faulty SSDs.
• Inaccessible storage devices.
• Storage media unsuitable for secure erasure.
• Other storage components requiring physical destruction.

Storage media will be securely handled until the destruction process has been completed.

Simply removing a storage device from equipment does not constitute data destruction.

Where storage cannot be reliably erased or separated from a device, the relevant storage-bearing component or equipment will be securely destroyed rather than released for reuse or resale.

5. No Resale of Used Data-Storage Devices

Palmy Tech Recycling never sells used data-storage media collected from customers.

This includes:

• Hard disk drives (HDDs).
• Solid-state drives (SSDs).
• USB storage devices.
• Memory cards.
• Other collected data-storage media.

This policy applies regardless of whether the data has been securely erased.

Collected storage media is processed through appropriate Secure Data Erasure, destruction or recycling procedures.

Suitable non-storage equipment and components may be reused, refurbished or sold after the relevant data-security requirements have been completed.

6. Data Destruction Certificates

Palmy Tech Recycling can provide Data Destruction Certificates documenting completed data-erasure or physical destruction processes.

Our certificates provide a record of the applicable data-security work carried out on accepted equipment.

Depending on the collection and available equipment records, certificates may include:

• Customer or organisation name.
• Equipment or storage media identification.
• Date of processing.
• Method of Secure Data Erasure or physical destruction.
• Confirmation that the documented erasure or destruction process has been completed.

Our certificates support business recordkeeping and provide documentation of completed data-security procedures.

Customers requiring Data Destruction Certificates should inform us when arranging their collection so the appropriate documentation requirements can be recorded.

7. Handling of Collected Equipment

After collection, electronic equipment may undergo:

• Inspection.
• Sorting.
• Testing.
• Assessment for reuse.
• Component recovery.
• Preparation for recycling.

Equipment containing data-bearing storage is handled with appropriate safeguards while awaiting Secure Data Erasure or physical destruction.

Access to collected data-bearing equipment is restricted to authorised personnel involved in handling and processing activities.

No accepted data-bearing storage will be released for reuse, resale or general recycling while untreated customer data remains on it.

8. Preparing Equipment for Collection

Before handing over electronic equipment, we recommend that customers:

1. Back up important business and personal files.
2. Sign out of online accounts where practical.
3. Remove personal accounts and activation locks where appropriate.
4. Inform us of unusual equipment or special handling requirements.
5. Advise us of any particular documentation requirements.

Customers are not required to perform their own data erasure to receive our standard Secure Data Erasure service.

Once secure erasure or physical destruction has been completed, the original information will no longer be available for retrieval through our collection service.

9. Equipment Reuse and Refurbishment

Where suitable, collected electronic equipment may be assessed for reuse or refurbishment.

This may include:

• Desktop computers.
• Laptops.
• Computer monitors.
• Networking equipment.
• Servers and workstations.
• Computer accessories.
• Other suitable electronic components.

Our aim is to extend the useful life of suitable equipment while maintaining our data-security commitments.

Before equipment is released for reuse or resale, collected data-storage media must be removed or otherwise processed in accordance with our 100% Data Destruction Guarantee.

Used storage media collected from customers will never be sold.

10. Recycling and Material Recovery

Electronic equipment not selected for reuse may be processed for recycling and material recovery.

This may include:

• Sorting electronic components.
• Separating reusable materials.
• Recovering suitable components.
• Processing equipment through appropriate recycling arrangements.

Our aim is to reduce unnecessary electronic waste and support responsible resource recovery.

11. Environmental Responsibility

Palmy Tech Recycling supports responsible electronic waste management.

We aim to:

• Reduce electronic waste sent to landfill.
• Encourage responsible electronic equipment disposal.
• Recover reusable components and materials.
• Extend equipment life through suitable refurbishment.
• Support appropriate recycling and resource recovery practices.

We are committed to operating responsibly and continually improving our recycling processes.

12. Special Handling Requirements

Customers must advise us before collection if equipment contains:

• Damaged or swollen batteries.
• Leaking electronic components.
• Hazardous materials.
• Contaminated equipment.
• Unusual or specialised storage systems.

We may decline equipment where safe handling arrangements cannot be established.

13. Privacy and Confidentiality

Palmy Tech Recycling takes the protection of customer information seriously.

Personal and confidential information encountered during equipment collection and processing will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable New Zealand laws.

All accepted data-bearing storage media are covered by our Secure Data Erasure and 100% Data Destruction Guarantee.

Where specialist third-party recycling or processing providers are used, appropriate confidentiality and information-security safeguards will apply.

14. Contact Us

For enquiries about Secure Data Erasure, Data Destruction Certificates, equipment collection or electronic recycling, please contact:

Palmy Tech Recycling

Palmerston North, New Zealand
Serving the wider Manawatū Region

Email: [email protected]
Website: palmytechrecycling.co.nz