ITAD and Data Center Decommissioning
ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) is the secure decommissioning of servers, storage systems, network equipment and IT infrastructure: from inventory and collection to recycling.
BASE METAL helps data centers, colocation operators, banks, telecommunications companies and public-sector organizations arrange the acceptance, dismantling, removal and recycling of IT equipment.
We do not treat equipment only as scrap metal. For corporate clients, security, control, asset tracking, data carrier destruction and clear reporting are essential. That is why an ITAD project is organized according to an agreed procedure: from inventory and removal to sorting, recycling and confirmation of data carrier destruction.
BASE METAL ITAD Service
We accept batches of IT equipment after modernization, relocation, server room closure, data center upgrade or infrastructure replacement:
• servers and server components
• storage systems
• HDD, SSD, NVMe and other data carriers
• network equipment: switches, routers, firewalls and optical equipment
• rack cabinets, rails and PDUs
• UPS units, battery modules and power equipment
• copper and fiber-optic cable
• circuit boards, processors, RAM and power supplies
• office equipment and corporate electronics
• equipment after write-off, upgrade or liquidation of IT infrastructure
Who the ITAD Service Is For
The service is suitable for companies that need more than just disposal of old equipment. They need the process closed correctly: securely, with documentation and in line with internal control requirements.
We work with:
• data centers and colocation facilities
• banks and financial organizations
• telecommunications companies
• government and municipal institutions
• IT companies and system integrators
• large offices and industrial enterprises
• organizations that regularly refresh servers and workstations
How the ITAD Process Works
1. You send the equipment list. Equipment type, quantity, condition, presence of data carriers, address and preferred removal dates.
2. We assess the project. We determine what can be accepted as working equipment, what goes to recycling, which materials require separate sorting and which documents the client needs.
3. We arrange dismantling and removal. By agreement - site visit, loading, container or project-based removal from the facility.
4. We destroy data carriers. Hard drives are opened: the board is removed, the platters are cut in half with hydraulic shears and then shredded to a 30-50 mm fraction. SSDs, flash drives, SIM cards and bank cards are shredded directly. The process takes place in a video-monitored room; on request, the client receives a video recording or attends in person.
5. We sort and recycle the equipment. Metal, circuit boards, cable, batteries, aluminum, components and other fractions are separated.
6. We provide documents. Acceptance and handover act, equipment list, data carrier destruction confirmation and recycling documents.
Data Carrier Destruction
When servers and IT equipment are decommissioned, the main risk is not the metal, but the data.
BASE METAL performs physical destruction of data carriers: HDDs, SSDs, flash drives, SIM cards, bank cards and other media - using our own equipment at our own facility. Hard drives are dismantled and cut with hydraulic shears, and the remaining parts are shredded to a 30-50 mm fraction; small data carriers are shredded immediately. The process takes place in a video-monitored room. On request, the client receives a video recording or attends the destruction in person.
A destruction act is issued for every batch - under the valid waste management permit (KL-523486).
Important: we do not claim to hold R2v3 or ISO/IEC 27001 certification. If the client has its own requirements for security, reporting format or destruction procedure, we agree the workflow and documents in advance, before the project begins.
Service Regions
BASE METAL operates at its facility in Estonia and accepts ITAD projects from Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden and Norway. Logistics and equipment removal outside Estonia - including routes and timelines - are agreed individually for each project.
Why This Is More Valuable Than Standard Disposal
Server and network equipment often retains value even after write-off: copper, aluminum, circuit boards, processors, RAM, power supplies, cable, batteries and other components.
With proper sorting, a company receives:
• a clear equipment write-off process
• reduced risk of data leakage
• documented confirmation of handover and data carrier destruction
• the opportunity to receive payment for valuable materials
• recycling in line with waste management requirements
• a partner who understands the difference between an IT asset and ordinary scrap metal
Why BASE METAL Is Your ITAD Partner
BASE METAL specializes in recycling electronics, cable, circuit boards, non-ferrous metals and materials containing valuable components.
Advantages for B2B clients:
• acceptance of server and IT equipment for ITAD projects
• work with large equipment batches
• data carrier destruction at our own facility
• video recording of the destruction process on request
• removal and logistics by agreement, including neighboring countries
• recycling of electronics, cable, circuit boards and batteries
Permits and Certifications:
• Waste management permit KL-523486
• Waste transport permit RE.JÄ/519891
• ISO 9001 - quality management
• ISO 14001 - environmental management
• Member of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
What to Prepare Before Sending a Request
To receive an offer faster, please send:
• equipment list
• number of units or approximate weight
• photos of the equipment, racks, cables and room
• information about data carriers
• facility address
• preferred removal dates
• requirements for documents and reporting
If there is no exact list yet, you can start with photos and a short description. For larger ITAD projects, we can agree on a site inspection.
Questions About ITAD and Data Destruction
Do you buy servers or accept them as waste?
It depends on the condition, generation, configuration and volume. Some equipment may have residual value, while some is accepted for recycling as electronic waste or metal-containing materials.
Can hard drives be destroyed separately from servers?
Yes. We accept HDDs, SSDs, flash drives and other data carriers for destruction either separately or together with server equipment.
Can I receive confirmation of data destruction?
Yes. On request, we agree on destruction confirmation, video recording or the presence of the client's representative during the process.
Do you work with data centers and server rooms?
Yes. We accept servers, network equipment, cable, UPS units, rack cabinets, circuit boards, batteries and other materials after dismantling or modernization as part of an ITAD project.
Which countries do you work with?
Our facility is located in Estonia. We accept ITAD projects from Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Sweden and Norway - logistics are agreed separately for each project.
Can removal from the site be arranged?
Yes. For large equipment batches, server rooms and data centers, removal is agreed individually.
Are you planning a server upgrade, server room closure or IT infrastructure decommissioning?
Send the equipment list, photos and facility address. BASE METAL will prepare an offer for your ITAD project: acceptance, removal, data carrier destruction and recycling.