The price range of most media destruction is one reason people shy away from such services. Users worry that they might spend a fortune in exchange for their data security. Therefore, they dismiss the thought of safe media disposal altogether. But did you know that there is a service called free hard drive shredding that provides zero-cost secure data destruction? No fees required, IT asset disposition (ITAD) companies will only ask for your unwanted hard drive as a donation, and problem solved! You will effectively discard your media storage. At the same time, you will spend nothing. 

Though it is hard to believe, this free hard drive destruction service exists. You can check out if your country has one, for the ITAD industry is recently expanding. You can also scroll down through this article and review some of the leading ITAD vendors worldwide. Either way, your options for a free hard drive shredding service are abundant. So, there is no excuse for why you would pass on secure hard drive destruction.

What is Free Hard Drive Shredding?

As the service's name implies, it is hard to drive disposal that is free of charge. All you have to do is donate your unused, obsolete hard drive to an ITAD vendor, and they will dispose of your device. Don't worry! Despite being free, this process still offers the same confidentiality and effectiveness that a regular shredding service has. With that said, you can expect that the providers will still follow the protocols of secure media destruction – wiping the HD's contents clean, shredding it to pieces until it's irretrievable. 

While it is almost identical to the typical, paid shredding that we know, free hard drive shredding has a few significant differences. The latter doesn't often come with a destruction certificate and a project tracking number. On this note, you must choose a credible service provider. Opt for an ITAD company that you can trust even without acquiring the certificate and the tracker. 

How does Free Hard Drive Shredding Work?

As much as ITAD vendors want to accept all kinds of hard drives, not all of them have the proper unit of shredders to do such. Since media destruction machines like shredders vary in features and capabilities, recycling companies often check devices' compatibility with the equipment that they have at hand. Plus, ITAD companies are most likely to designate a particular drive destruction machine for free hard drive shredding services. For these reasons, users cannot dispose of every type of hard drive straight into a recycling facility.

The best you can do is determine your device's specifications – the size, the model, and even its storage capacity. By doing so, your disposal and the overall transaction will be more manageable. However, if you are not into technology and you find it hard to identify your hard drive's condition, feel free to call the experts finally. ITAD professionals will ask you to take a photo of your device to give you their thorough feedback. 

Once the assessment is done, most recycling companies will give you a schedule when you can donate your device. On the other hand, some vendors can go to your place for onsite data destruction. The duration of the process depends on the performance and mobility of the provider's destruction equipment. But the order of the actual procedure remains the same. To start, ITAD vendors will eradicate any electronic data from your donated hard drive. Because this step is solely initial data destruction, experts will further destroy the hard drive through a shredder. Upon hard drive shredding, the device is torn and ripped with the machine's rotating blades. As a result, the drive and its components, particularly the platter holding the data, are irreversibly damaged. After shredding, your once surplus IT device is now e-waste. 

As mentioned, you are not likely to receive a certificate of destruction by the end of the process. Suppose that you want to request one, you'll have to pay the company an additional fee. But please keep in mind that recycling companies implement their respective terms on free hard drive shredding. Thus, do not forget to give them a call or check the service details on their official websites. 

Common Hard Drive Types and Sizes that ITAD Companies Accept

Earlier, you learn that recycling companies do not always accept every donated hard drive. Therefore, you must be wondering what specific hard drives an ITAD company will consider shredding? The curated list below will give you an idea of what common hard drive types and sizes ITAD-related organizations accept for free hard drive shredding. 

IDE Hard Drives

No companies manufacture Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard drives anymore; no doubt, such kinds are among the most received devices in recycling facilities these days. IDE is more commonly known as ATA or PATA (parallel ATA). It is a default interface among IBM computers that was first developed in 1986. While it barely withstood the earlier years' technology evolution, IDE hard drives are outshined by SATA.

If you have an old computer and wish to know what hard drive it houses, go to the device manager—Double-click the "Disk Drives" category to expand it. Record the hard drive model number that appeared on the screen. Finally, enter your acquired model number in a search engine. Online results will show you whether the hard drive is ATA or SATA.

SATA Hard Drives

Speaking of SATA (or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) - these are hard drives with spinning platters and a moving needle that writes data. Most SATA hard drives can run smoothly for five years, depending on the best care. This kind of storage device has impressive storage capacities and practical transmission speeds. SATA hard drives intended for desktop computers are 4 inches wide, 1.03 inches tall, and 5.79 inches long. In comparison, the ones designed for laptops are usually 2.7 inches wide, 0.37 inches tall, and 3.96 inches long. Aside from desktop computers and laptops, SATA drives are often found in video gaming consoles such as the PlayStation series, Xbox and One.

SAS Hard Drives

SAS stands for Serial Attached SCSI (Small Computer System Interface). Like IDE and SATA, SAS is also a computer interface, though it is also commonly used to describe a type of hard drive – 10Kor 15K SAS. SAS disks can range from 300GB to up to 900GB in terms of media storage capacity. Due to SAS hard drives' high speed and availability, they are used for Enterprise Computing like E-commerce and banking transactions. 

ITAD companies that Offer Free Hard Drive Shredding

To save you from the hassle, we round up the most well-known ITAD companies that can offer you a hard drive shredding for free. The following organizations are located at varying places. Some are overseas, and others are local recycling companies here in Canada. 

Ecycle Atlanta

Ecycle Atlanta is a computer recycling company based in Atlanta, Georgia, that operates with a sustainable philosophy. They believe that users must always try to recycle, repurpose, or re-market old computer hardware. Since by doing these mere practices, consumers can delay the accumulation of e-wastes at landfills. This is the same reason why this particular ITAD vendor encourages everyone to donate unused and unwanted hard drives in exchange for a free hard drive shred. Ecycle Atlanta offers a scheduled pickup, electronics drop-off, and mobile onsite hard drive shredding. 

Beyond Surplus

Residing at the same location, Beyond Surplus is a recycling company in Atlanta. This ITAD vendor offers free hard drive destruction services to both business and residential customers. The company promises that they comply with renowned data security policies such as HIPAA, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, The Patriot Act, Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, and others. Similar to Ecycle Atlanta, their computer services cost nothing. Again, all you have to do is to donate your hard drive. Thus, if you worry about a data breach and are nearby Georgia, check this company. 

Electronic Recycling Association

Electronic Recycling Association, also known as ERA, is a non-profit organization committed to reducing the environmental impact. Established in 2004, ERA has nonstop offered services to manage corporations' retiring assets and individual electronic users alike. It is also an establishment known to partner with different government agencies for meaningful, sustainable initiatives. You can fill out their donation form online, or you can visit their numerous depots and drop-off points scattered across Canada.

Opt for Abtron and Its Exceptional Hard Drive Shredding Services!

Then again, nothing beats the data security that regular media destruction services provide. Yes, they might come at a considerable price point, but every dollar is worth the decision. The level of confidentiality and unlimited access you can have throughout the hard drive shredding process is still unrivaled. 

Unlike free hard drive shredding, Abtron offers a complete, foolproof hard drive shredding service. The experts at Abtron can give you a certificate and additional proof of destruction upon your request. So, you can rest assured that your hard drive is destroyed, and no one will ever adversely use your electronic data. Furthermore, Abtron Computer Services has been performing secure data destruction services for 20 years now. The company gains more clients due to their exceptional computer services. You will never get an ITAD partner as trustworthy and productive as this company – Call Abtron today!