Some of our most important information is stored on electronic devices. It’s critical that they’re safeguarded (and responsibly disposed of) when they’ve reached their end-of-life or are no longer needed. Improperly offloading your device makes your data vulnerable, creating opportunities for a breach. At WashU and around your area, there are services that you can leverage to dispose of your e-waste, to prevent your information from falling into the wrong hands.
Personal Devices
Each year, the Office of Information Security’s (OIS) Awareness, Behavior, and Culture (ABC) team collaborates with the Office of Sustainability to host paper shredding and e-waste recycling events bi-annually. These events are open to all WashU Community members, inviting everyone to bring their personal electronic devices and accessories for safe disposal by certified vendors.
If your personal device has university data, contact WashU to responsibly dispose of it. External services and WashU waste drives (organized by the Office of Sustainability) are for non-university materials only.
Outside of these events, trusted vendors, such as Apple, Samsung or Best Buy, offer gift cards in exchange for select devices, or recycle electronics that are ineligible for one. Before choosing a program, it’s important to do your research to verify you’re using a certified vendor and are getting the best return for your device.
- Perform a due diligence check. Does your device contain any WashU data? If so, go through WashU’s official channels to ensure secure disposal of your device(s).
- Review all terms and conditions and understand all the steps required to complete the process. Each program is unique and will have their own guidelines to trading in or recycling a device. Verify that your choice meets your needs.
- Save your device data to a secure location. Transfer or back up any information that you may need. Once you complete the trade in or recycle process, all your data will likely become unrecoverable.
- Turn off device tracking software. Often, vendors will require that all tracking capabilities are turned off. Refer to Apple Support or Android Help for guidance on how to do this on iOS and Android devices, respectively.
- Erase all content from the device. Resetting all settings and wiping all data from your device are essential steps in the process. Be sure to do this before handing the device over to your chosen certified vendor.
By the end, your efforts should return the device to the state it was when you first got it – configured to factory settings and without any of your data. Taking the time to securely dispose of e-waste “devalues” your device to scammers looking to exploit your information for personal gain.
University Equipment
Disposing of WashU equipment (including personal devices with institutional, propriety, or protected data) requires coordination with the university and compliance with WashU’s information security standards.
- Starting Point: Begin by reviewing Standard 200 Information Security Classification, Labeling, and Handling and following all steps outlined.
- Key Contacts: Community members departing WashU or needing equipment replaced should coordinate with their departments and WashU IT to securely dispose of devices with data storage capabilities by utilizing the ServiceNow catalog item: Computer Equipment Disposal Request.
- Questions? Contact the Office of Information Security (OIS) by emailing infosec@wustl.edu with questions on secure disposal practices.
Whether you’re handling university equipment or a personal device, secure disposal of your e-waste is essential. Familiarizing yourself with the services that are available to you is the first step to developing a cybersecurity mindset for your waste. Thank you for keeping WashU secure!
This article has been reviewed by partners in the Office of Sustainability and IT End User Experience. Any Office of Information Security (OIS) guidance referenced reflects the policies, standards, and guidelines in effect as of October 30, 2025. To ensure that the content you are reading in this article is not out-of-date, verify whether current versions of WashU and OIS guidance have been updated since this article’s publication date.
Further Reading
Standard 200 Information Security Classification, Labeling, and Handling