Re-use ICT equipment and confidentiality

When it comes to valorise the residual value of WEEE, is data safety as discarded WEEE such as computers often contain confidential information. The Dutch government researched data erasure in relation to this matter. This research led to the following conclusions:
• Data erasure is possible (use certified software); (links)
• There are costs involved and the yield of the ‘refurbished’ IT items is not always enough to cover the costs (old models, incomplete);
• The key is the operational management of the IT items in the organization. They should be treated as valuable, also when discarded off internally. Persons should know –and act accordingly- that these items will be sold to be re-used.