Frequently Asked Questions

All data containing devices are physically destroyed or overwritten in accordance with NIST standards.

Green Century can customize the wiping service to meet your company’s specific reporting needs. We use proprietary software to destroy and verify all data on Laptops, Desktops, IOS, Android and mobile devices. We provide full reporting including serial numbers, IMEI numbers and asset tags. Onsite services available as well as national mail in program.

E-cycling is the process of recycling your electronic waste. Green Century practices reuse, reduce, recycle, so we will test all of your items for functionality and reuse. Electronics that are not able to be refurbished, or are not reusable, are dismantled and sorted by material type before being sent to a metal recovery facility. The raw material recovered is then used to make new items.

Drop off your electronics to our facility FREE of charge or we offer a flat rate pick-up service. See our RATES AND MATERIALS page for a list of items we accept.

We ask that your items be free from other garbage such as food waste, styrofoam, plastic bags etc. It is helpful but not necessary to remove all paper manuals and recycle them at your curbside recycling. To view full instructions on how to prepare your items view our How to Prepare Your Electronics page. 

Mobile Devices

If you would like your device to be reused it is critical to turn off the activation lock. Even if your device is damaged, it may be worth repairing as long as it is not locked. If you have an Apple (iOS) device, please follow these instructions to prepare it for reuse.

• Apple Unlock Instructions
• for Sonos
• Alexa Devices
• Google products

First, your items are determined to be either reusable or ready for recycling. The material that is reusable gets directed to our refurbishing center right here in Portland, Oregon. From there it gets tested for key functionality and any repairs are done at this point. Once your electronic item has been refurbished, wiped of all data, tested and verified it then gets logged as inventory and gets sold or donated.

Should your item be deemed “ready for recycling” it gets dismantled to its smaller components which then get sorted by material type. Each different material type will then be sent for metal recovery. Both processes and all of our procedures are governed by the parameters of R2v3 and annual surveillance audits. This, along with tracking procedures, ensures that all material processed at Green Century has been handled with the utmost concern and respect for our communities locally as well as globally.