Cambridgeshire operator Whippet is solving what it says is a surprisingly extensive problem of unclaimed electronic devices left on its vehicles as lost property by working with Ready Set Recycle to dispose of them.
Around 500 pieces of lost property are left on Whippet coaches and buses each year including phones, laptops and tablets. While many are reclaimed by their owners, disposal of those that are not “poses environmental and data privacy issues,” the operator says.
Ready Set Recycle will safely and securely wipe and recycle devices that are not returned to their owners after having been held by Whippet for at least three months. While unclaimed lost property is typically donated or recycled by the operator, that is more complicated with electronic items.
Whippet Interim General Manager Ed Cameron says: “By partnering with Ready Set Recycle, we are ensuring that unclaimed devices will be securely wiped of all personal data and recycled sustainably.
“As a specialist in that field, Ready Set Recycle can save many more items from destruction and give them a new lease of life, minimising electrical waste and making sure that even smaller items like charging cables are recycled effectively.”
The supplier’s Chief Operations Officer Mat Lambert says that it “is dedicated to ensuring that unclaimed electronic devices are handled with the utmost care and responsibility.”
He continues: “By partnering with Whippet, we are not only preventing unnecessary waste but also ensuring that the devices are processed securely and sustainably. Together, we are reducing the environmental impact of e-waste while addressing the critical issue of data protection.”
