Data destruction

Data destruction is essential to securely and irreversibly remove sensitive corporate information from old IT equipment.

Data destruction with certificate

Secure data destruction of IT equipment

With secure and certified data destruction of IT equipment, you prevent confidential information from falling into the wrong hands as a company. Old IT devices often still contain traceable data, even after formatting or standard deletion.

E-Waste Netherlands provides a professional approach in which IT hardware such as hard drives, laptops, computers, smartphones and servers are certified destroyed or erased. We remove all data from all data carriers, such as sensitive company information, customer profiles and patient data professionally via certified software or physical destruction. You will always receive an official certificate, so that you comply with GDPR legislation and internal audit requirements. Safe, responsible and completely unburdened.

The Importance of Certified Data Destruction for Businesses

The importance of certified data destruction for companies lies in the protection of company data and compliance with legislation such as the GDPR. Without proper destruction, you run the risk of data leaks, reputational damage and fines. Our method complies with all applicable standards, so that confidential data never ends up on the street.

What certifications does E-Waste Nederland have?

E-Waste Nederland has all the relevant certifications and quality marks to ensure secure data destruction and responsible processing of IT equipment. We are part of W3E and certified according to:

ISO 27001 – information security
ISO 9001 – quality management
ISO 14001 – environmental management
WEEELABEX – processing of electronic waste
Blancco Certified Data Erasure Partner – for software erasure
NIWO transport permit – for safe transport of electronic waste

These certificates underline our reliability, compliance and focus on sustainability.

Looking for an IT data destruction company?

Looking for a IT data destruction company that completely unburdens you? E-Waste Nederland offers safe, fast and certified data destruction of IT devices for companies throughout the Netherlands. Request a free price list and quote now. Or contact us via 085 -06 08 411.

Destroying data carriers and hard drives, what are the options?

Data carriers and destroy hard drives is a crucial part of responsible IT management. Decommissioned equipment often still contains sensitive company information, customer data or personal data that falls under the GDPR. To prevent risks of data leaks or reputational damage, it is essential that this data is destroyed in a professional manner. Depending on the type of medium and the sensitivity of the information, different methods are available:

1. Software Erase

Software erasure is performed using certified data wiping software, such as Blancco. This method overwrites the stored data multiple times according to recognized standards (e.g. NIST 800-88 or DoD 5220.22-M). The data is irretrievably deleted without physically damaging the medium. This method is ideal for hardware that is reused or resold.

2. Physical shredding

Physical shredding is a method in which the hard drive or data carrier is mechanically destroyed with an industrial shredder. The drive is ground into small fragments, so that recovery is impossible. This method is particularly suitable for broken drives, confidential data or when reuse is out of the question.

3. Degaussing

Degaussing is the erasure of magnetic data carriers by means of a powerful magnet. This disrupts the magnetic structure of the disk, permanently erasing the stored data. This method only works on magnetic media, such as traditional hard drives and tapes, and renders the medium unusable.

When to choose certified data destruction?

For companies, certified data destruction is not really a choice, but a must. You do not want sensitive customer data to end up with third parties, for example. Usually, there are protocols established regarding the destruction of IT equipment within the company policy. The choice between software erasure, shredding or degaussing depends on various factors:

Reusability of the device
Compliance requirements within your sector
Data classification (e.g. confidential, personal or business critical)
Internal audit requirements or GDPR protocols

We will be happy to advise you on the method that best suits your organisation, type of equipment and safety standards. You will always receive a destruction certificate for your administration or audit purposes.

How much does data destruction cost?

The costs of data destruction depend on a number of factors, such as:

Number of devices or data carriers
Carrier type (HDD, SSD, smartphone, tape, etc.)
Method chosen (software erasure or physical destruction)
At your location or in our processing center
Any transport costs

For large numbers, data destruction can even be performed free of charge in combination with hardware purchase. In other cases, we charge a rate per disk or per project. Contact us for a free quote tailored to your situation.

Which IT devices do we destroy?

E-Waste Nederland can destroy all types of IT equipment for your organization. Choose the type of equipment from the list below for more information:

Destroy laptops (including notebooks and chromebooks)
Destroy computers (desktops and PCs)
Destroy servers (and other network equipment)
Destroy hard drives (such as HDDs and SSDs)
Destroy USB sticks (and other small memory cards/flash drives)
Destroy CDs (and DVDs)
Tapes Destruction
Destroy backup tapes
Data carrier destruction
Destroy phones (mobile phones, smartphones and tablets)
Destroy VOIP phones
NAS systems and rack servers
Backup media and old IT assets

Data destruction at your location, is that possible?

Of course, on-site data destruction is possible. It offers extra security for companies with sensitive data. We come to your location with mobile equipment and will shred your data carriers and hard drives in your computers or laptops under your watchful eye.

Data destruction certificate

You will receive a data destruction certificate from us as proof that all data has been irretrievably deleted. This document is essential for your administration, internal audits and demonstrating compliance with the GDPR and ISO 27001. This way you are assured of responsible processing of your IT equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions about IT Data Destruction

How can I destroy data carriers safely?

Data carriers can be destroyed physically or by software. The safest method is certified erasure with a software program such as Blancco or physical destruction via an approved shredder or degausser. Read more about destroying data carriers here.

How much does it cost to destroy a hard drive?

The cost of hard drive destruction depends on the volume, the method (software or physical) and the location. Do you want to destroy your old have hard drives destroyed? We will be happy to provide you with a no-obligation, customized quote.

How can I destroy my computer?

For companies:
You can have a computer safely destroyed by having the internal hard drive certified erased or physically destroyed via E-Waste Nederland. We ensure GDPR-compliant processing, including an official certificate of data destruction. The remaining hardware is sustainably recycled according to WEEELABEX standards.

For private individuals:
As a private individual, you can remove the hard drive from your computer (or have it removed) and physically disable it, for example by damaging it with a drill or hammer. You can then offer the device at a municipal recycling centre or specialist collection point. Please note: without certified destruction, data can theoretically be recovered.

How can I destroy my SSD?

SSDs require a different approach than traditional hard drives. Physical destruction is effective, but must be done carefully because otherwise data can remain partially intact. A combination of software erasure and physical shredding is the most secure. We provide professional SSD destruction with proof of processing.

How can I destroy my smartphone?

For companies:
Smartphones can first be erased by software with certified tools (such as Blancco) by E-Waste Nederland and then physically destroyed or recycled. You will receive a certificate of data erasure, which is important for compliance and audits.

For private individuals:
Individuals can reset a smartphone to factory settings and then make the device physically unusable. The device can then be handed in at a recycling point or store with a return policy. Please note that factory settings do not guarantee complete data removal.

How can I destroy my hard drive myself?

You can physically destroy your hard drive yourself by unscrewing it and damaging the magnetic disk with a hammer or drill. Read our blog How to destroy hard drive for other methods. Please note that this obviously does not meet the requirements of data erasure according to GDPR or ISO standards, because confidential data may still be traceable. For companies, certified destruction is therefore the most secure option.

How can I safely dispose of an old hard drive?

An old hard drive should never be thrown away. It may still contain data that can be misused. Therefore, have the drive professionally destroyed by a recognized data destruction company such as E-Waste Nederland, which ensures the correct erasure of the hard drive and environmentally friendly processing.

How do I erase all data from my hard drive?

To completely remove all data from a hard drive, software erasure using certified tools such as Blancco is the best solution. This overwrites the drive multiple times, making recovery impossible. This method complies with standards such as NIST 800-88 and DoD 5220.22-M. If this is not possible or desired due to damage or requirements, shredding – or physically grinding – is the best option.

Responsible IT Recycling

IT recycling is the sustainable processing and reuse of decommissioned IT equipment in order to minimize e-waste.

Have IT Waste collected

We offer a low-cost ICT Pick-up service for companies. Within 10 working days we will come and pick up your ICT waste at your location.

Sell old hardware

As a recognized IT buyer, you can sell your old hardware to us. You will receive an attractive and fair residual value for your old IT equipment.

E-Waste Containers

Do you regularly want to dispose of old IT equipment or other E-Waste? Renting a special e-waste container at your location offers a solution.

Have your hard drives destroyed safely

Have your hard drives destroyed safely and certified by E-Waste Nederland. We ensure complete data destruction with certificate, according to the strictest standards. Ask for our prices today.