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PHS cautiously welcomes new rules
05 Apr 2011
PAS 141 sets out the basic standards that electronic equipment must meet to be classed as fit for reuse and therefore allowed to be sent overseas. After several delays, the specification was made public on 31 March.
The standard addresses the issue of data eradication following high profile cases where electrical equipment from the UK was sold in Africa, containing the previous owners’ personal data.
PHS Maxitech says the specification is a positive move for the industry. Anthony Pearlgood, commercial director, said:
“This specification is a step in the right direction and shows the government’s commitment to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. We welcome the move and encourage everyone in the industry to follow the guidelines.
“As a business, we’re committed to ensuring that hazardous electrical materials do not end up at landfill and personal data does not end up in the wrong hands. Unfortunately there are a minority of unscrupulous operators that don’t follow procedures. The next step is making the specification compulsory for all businesses involved in the reuse industry and introducing penalties for those that don’t follow the standard.”
In order to meet PAS 141 requirements, those involved in reuse have to meet specific standards in areas such as the functionality of equipment and data eradication.
PHS Maxitech is part of PHS Datashred, a division of the £400 million PHS Group. Datashred offers secure onsite and offsite document shredding of confidential data, while Maxitech disposes of redundant electronic and electrical equipment in line with the WEEE Directive and Data Protection Act.
