DTA releases guide to reducing ICT waste in the APS
Millions of devices are retired across the Australian Public Service (APS) every five years, so as part of the Australian Government’s commitment to sustainable digital transformation, the Digital Transformation Agency has released a new Sustainable Device Management (SDM) Guide.
The SDM Guide offers practical advice to support better reuse, donation and recycling practices to aid the reduction of electronic waste in ways that support the government’s environmental and digital inclusion goals.
The aim of the SDM Guide is to support agencies in incorporating sustainability at every stage of the device lifecycle, from procurement to disposal. By planning ahead and embedding circular practices early, agencies can extend the life of government-owned devices, reduce electronic waste and contribute to the government’s circular economy goals in an ethical and secure manner.
“The APS is projected to replace around 3.8 million ICT devices over the next five years, but 50–70% of them have the potential for reuse,” said Lucy Poole, acting CEO for the DTA. “Carefully considering sustainable device management approaches means significant opportunities to reduce waste and deliver broader public value.”
This SDM Guide provides practical steps to help agencies:
- embed sustainability early by planning for reuse, donation and recycling from the procurement stage
- assess reuse potential by identifying devices suitable for reuse or donation before opting for recycling
- ensure compliant and secure sanitisation practices to protect sensitive data
- manage risk and compliance by applying consistent, secure and ethical practices aligned with Commonwealth obligations
- partner with purpose by engaging trusted organisations that support environmental and social outcomes for refurbishment and donation
- track and measure outcomes by utilising data to support circular practices and inform future improvements.
The DTA says that the release of the SDM Guide marks an important step towards more sustainable ICT practices across government.
The Sustainable Device Management Guide can be found here.
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