FAQs

Frequently asked questions Everything customers ask us most, in one place. How do I choose a reliable IT recycler or ITAD provider? Look for a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF),....

Frequently asked questions

Everything customers ask us most, in one place.

How do I choose a reliable IT recycler or ITAD provider?

Look for a licensed Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF), certified data destruction to NIST 800-88 and HEE 2883 standards, a written Waste Transfer Note for every collection, and UK-only processing with nothing exported. R3 has held ATF status for over 20 years and meets all of these as standard.

Why should I recycle old IT equipment instead of binning it?
It’s both a legal requirement under WEEE regulations and an environmental one. Old IT equipment often still holds recoverable data, and improperly discarded devices can leak hazardous materials into the environment.
What happens to the data on my old devices?
We apply data destruction to NIST 800-88 and HEE 2883 standards, through wiping, degaussing, or physical shredding depending on the device. See our Secure Data Destruction page for full detail.
Is R3 properly licensed?
Yes. We’ve held Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) status for over 20 years, alongside our waste carrier and waste management licences. See our Accreditations page for the full list.
What’s the Waste Hierarchy, and why does it matter?
It’s the UK’s official framework for handling waste responsibly: prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling, other recovery, and disposal, in that order. We work through it properly rather than skipping straight to recycling.
Am I still responsible for my data once you’ve collected it?
Yes, under UK GDPR you remain the data controller until your data is verifiably destroyed, as is your data processor under a written agreement. See our Data Protection Compliance page for more.
What equipment do you collect?
Desktops, laptops, servers, monitors, networking equipment, printers, mobile devices, and other related IT or office electronics. If it’s our specialism, we can handle equipment and electrical items too.
Where do you collect from?
We’re based in Swallowfield, Reading, and specialise in Berkshire and the surrounding counties, covering Oxford, Swindon, and Basingstoke, with nationwide collection available.
How do I book a collection?
Get in touch online, by phone, or by email. We’ll discuss your collection and propose a date. See our full disposal process for what happens after that.