Bell Microsystems wins AATF status
Portsmouth-based reseller gains Environment Agency badge to up its WEEE disposal credentials
Bells and whistles: The VAR aims to offer businesses services across the IT lifecycle
Reseller Bell Microsystems has sealed Approved Authorised Treatment Facility (AATF) status from the Environment Agency and has claimed its IT expertise will set it apart from other AATFs.
The new status recognises the VAR's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling and disposal credentials. The firm also offers data destruction services and can wipe data to US Department of Defense standards.
Bell Microsystems indicated it aims to offer customers a "cradle to grave" IT service, encompassing purchase of equipment, subsequent support and eventual disposal or recycling.
Managing director Alastair Bell claimed in four out of five cases disposal would pay for itself and may even provide additional credit in some instances.
“While all businesses are aware of the need to comply with the latest environmental regulations, the task of having to keep track of new legislation and then manage the entire disposal and recycling process can be very time consuming,” he said.
“With today’s economic challenges, our customers are looking to focus on their core business activities. So it is far more efficient for them to work with an IT specialist that has all of the approvals and processes in place to ensure that their legal obligations are met."
The VAR has offered IT disposal for 12 years and in 2007 become one of the UK's first Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATF). The company claims its services are now used by a range of SMEs, as well as large enterprises in the telecoms and financial sectors.
Bell added that his firm's background in IT could differentiate it from the pack. "The majority of AATFs come from a general waste processing background and may not have sufficient understanding of the special security and business requirements of IT disposal," he said.
"Bell Microsystems brings its detailed understanding of IT issues to addressing the problem. We have invested in our own secure transport, secure warehousing and processing facilities and specialist equipment that thoroughly removes data from disc systems.
"Without this commitment to data security at the end of a system’s working life, businesses run the risk of sensitive data leaking from their company and that can be very damaging."