Got questions?
We’ve got (lots of) answers!

Absolutely. Whether you're upgrading 10 laptops or decommissioning an entire data center, we’ll create a custom recycling plan tailored to your operational, security, and compliance needs. This can include:

➜ Pickup scheduling (single or recurring service)

➜ Chain-of-custody documentation

➜ On-site inventory or asset tagging

➜ Hard drive wiping or physical shredding

➜ Certificates of Destruction with serial tracking

➜ Custom reporting to support HIPAA, ESG, and internal audit standards

Our data destruction protocols are modeled after NAID best practices, ensuring your devices are handled with the highest care and security.

Yes! Protecting your data is at the core of everything we do. Every hard drive, device, and file is handled with the same protocols used by top government and enterprise ITAD programs. We don’t take shortcuts, and we don’t take trust lightly.

From chain-of-custody documentation to certified wiping or physical shredding, your data is either irrevocably erased or completely destroyed. No exceptions, no gray areas. Your privacy is our priority.

At TechBack, secure physical destruction is our standard approach. The heart of our enclosed ITAD processing space is our industrial dual-chamber shredder, designed specifically to permanently destroy both traditional hard drives and delicate solid-state drives, effectively turning them into robot confetti.

Shredding is the most definitive NIST-recognized form of data destruction, which is why it’s our default protocol. Because of how solid-state drives store and encrypt data, we always recommend shredding SSDs as the most reliable method of ensuring complete data destruction.

All of this will be documented in your complimentary Certificate of Data Destruction, which includes serial numbers of the assets destroyed, along with the date and destruction method used.

For organizations that require it, we also offer DoD/NIST-compliant data wiping with individual reports as a premium service. In those cases, eligible drives are securely wiped using NIST 800-88 compliant erasure tools that permanently overwrite existing data and verify successful removal, ensuring the device is fully sanitized. If a drive cannot be safely wiped (due to damage or other technical limitations), all legible details are captured before it’s sent to our industrial shredder for secure physical destruction.

Our premium Certificate of Data Sanitation, which accompanies DoD/NIST-compliant data wiping, includes individual drive reports with serial numbers, erasure method, verification results, and the date each wipe was successfully completed.

Need more? Just let us know. We offer premium add-on services for a small fee, like:

• Asset-to-drive mapping
• Destruction photos or videos
• Returning shredded drive remnants
• Per-device destruction audits
• Custom compliance reporting

Your data security is our highest priority. From the moment equipment leaves your office to the moment data is permanently destroyed, every step follows strict security procedures designed to protect sensitive information.

This is cradle to grave security at its highest standard: At TechBack, we don’t just say your data is safe. We prove it, every step of the way.

1. FULL CHAIN OF CUSTODY

Every pickup begins with a Transfer of Custody Form documenting the handoff. Devices are secured on-site and transported by our fully insured team. Once your items arrive they are logged and weighed then stored in our high-security ITAD facility. At this point you’ll receive a Safe Arrival Confirmation with your signed Transfer of Custody. 

2. SECURE ITAD PROCESSING ZONE

Data-bearing devices are immediately placed inside our enclosed, access-controlled ITAD processing area, which is continuously monitored by security cameras.

Only authorized, trained staff can handle these materials, and every step of the intake and destruction process is documented.

3. COMPLETE DATA DESTRUCTION

Our standard method of data destruction is secure physical shredding using our industrial-grade hard drive shredder, which permanently destroys both traditional hard drives and solid-state drives.

This NIST-recognized method ensures data cannot be reconstructed or recovered.

For organizations that require it, we also offer DoD/NIST-compliant data wiping with individual reports as a premium service. Eligible drives are securely erased using certified tools that overwrite existing data and verify successful removal prior to reuse. If a drive cannot be safely wiped due to damage, encryption, or other limitations, it is automatically sent for secure shredding.

4. VERIFIED DOCUMENTATION

You’ll receive a Certificate of Data Destruction that includes:

• Serial numbers of destroyed hard drives
• The date and method of destruction

For organizations with additional compliance requirements, we also offer audit-level reporting and advanced documentation services.

Yes. TechBack’s data destruction and recycling process is designed around the same security and environmental frameworks used by leading IT asset disposition providers.

Our internal handling procedures follow HIPAA-compliant data protection practices, with trained staff, controlled access processing, and documented chain-of-custody from pickup through destruction.

Our destruction workflow is modeled directly after NAID operational best practices, prioritizing secure transport, restricted-access handling, and permanent physical destruction of data-bearing devices.

We also follow NIST media sanitization standards, which guide how electronic data must be permanently destroyed or erased depending on the type of device and the level of security required. Our standard protocol prioritizes NIST-recognized physical destruction, while organizations that require certified erasure can request DoD/NIST-compliant data wiping with individual audit reports.

And when it comes to recycling, TechBack works exclusively with R2-certified downstream partners, ensuring materials are dismantled and processed according to the highest environmental and data security standards.

Every TechBack job is assigned a unique job number and documented from transfer of custody through final destruction, creating an audit-ready record for internal compliance, regulatory review, and ESG reporting.

We got you. Every TechBack job is assigned a unique job number and includes our standard documentation package, giving you a clear record from pickup through final processing.

That includes:

• Transfer of Custody Form documenting the handoff at pickup

• Safe Arrival Confirmation when your equipment reaches our secure facility

• Certificate of Data Destruction with serial numbers of any drives destroyed

• Zero-Landfill Certificate of Recycling confirming responsible downstream processing

• TechBack GiveBack Impact Report showing how many trees your recycled tech helped plant

Together, these records create a clear, audit-ready trail showing exactly how your equipment was handled from start to finish.

Need more? We also offer advanced documentation services for organizations with additional compliance or reporting needs, including:

• Asset-to-Drive Mapping

• Individual DoD/NIST wipe reports

• ESG-ready impact reporting

• Photographic destruction verification

• Custom compliance documentation

We love helping companies prove their impact and protect their data so just let us know what you need and TechBack will make it happen.

Once your equipment arrives at our secure ITAD processing facility, you’ll receive a Safe Arrival Confirmation verifying that your materials have been received and logged into our system.

From there, all data-bearing devices are scanned and placed into secure client-designated storage lockers inside our controlled ITAD processing area. Drives remain secured in these individual holding areas until they move through our documented destruction workflow.

Our industrial shredder is operated in scheduled destruction batches, and most drives are securely destroyed and documented within a few business days of intake as part of our normal processing cycle.

If you require faster turnaround, a dedicated shredder run can be scheduled for expedited destruction. We also offer optional services such as returning shredded drive remnants or additional destruction verification for organizations with heightened compliance requirements.

Yes. Before dropping off or scheduling pickup for Apple devices, we ask that all Apple IDs and activation locks be removed from the device.

Apple designs its devices with extremely strong hardware-level security. Data stored on Apple devices is cryptographically tied to the device’s internal hardware and the user’s Apple ID, and in many models the storage is integrated directly into the logic board and sealed behind glued or laminated assemblies, often beneath the display glass.

Because of this design, accessing or removing internal storage is often not possible without dismantling the device in a way that destroys surrounding components and creates unnecessary safety risks. For that reason, the most reliable way to ensure proper processing is for the Apple ID to be removed before the device enters the recycling stream.

Our team will verify that devices are no longer associated with an Apple ID at intake. If you’re unsure how to remove your Apple ID or deactivate Find My Device, we’re always happy to help walk you through the process before pickup.

We’re always happy to host clients at TechBack and give you a behind-the-scenes look at how your equipment is handled. Visitors are welcome in our main facility areas, including our conference space and general recycling warehouse, where we can walk through the full lifecycle of your equipment and answer any questions about our process.

Because of our security protocols, entry into the enclosed ITAD data processing area is restricted to authorized staff only. This controlled access is an important part of maintaining the chain-of-custody and security standards we follow for all data-bearing devices.

That said, we’re still happy to show you how it works. We can arrange a controlled video walkthrough of the secure ITAD space, and in some cases allow guests to view the area from designated access points while our team explains the destruction process step by step.

We take security seriously, but we also believe in complete transparency, and we love giving clients a clear look at how their data is protected.

Because our ITAD processing area is a restricted, access-controlled security environment, we are not able to allow live viewing or virtual streaming of destruction events. This policy protects the confidentiality of all clients whose equipment may be present in the facility at any given time.

However, we understand that some organizations require visual verification of destruction for compliance or internal reporting.

For those cases, TechBack offers several premium verification services, including:

• Dedicated destruction runs scheduled specifically for your assets
• Video documentation of your destruction process
• Photographic destruction verification
• Return of shredded drive remnants if physical confirmation is required

These services allow companies to document and verify destruction while still maintaining the strict security controls required inside our ITAD facility.

Just let us know what your compliance requirements are, and we’ll work with you to provide the documentation you need.

Yes. For organizations that require certified data erasure, TechBack offers DoD and NIST-compliant data sanitization services with full audit documentation.

Our standard destruction protocol prioritizes NIST-recognized physical destruction, using our industrial dual-chamber shredder to permanently destroy both traditional hard drives and solid-state drives.

However, when sanitation is required for sustainability or compliance purposes, we also offer DoD 5220.22-M and NIST SP 800-88 Rev.1 compliant data wiping as a premium service.

Eligible drives are erased using certified data sanitization tools that overwrite existing data and verify successful removal. Each wiped device receives an individual audit report documenting:

• Device serial number

• Erasure method used (DoD / NIST standard)

• Verification status confirming successful wipe

• Date and time of the verified sanitation

This information is compiled into a Certificate of Data Sanitation, providing clear documentation for compliance, internal security policies, or regulatory audits.

Because this process requires individual device processing and reporting, DoD/NIST wiping is offered as a per-device premium service.

If you’re unsure which method your organization requires, we’re always happy to help you determine the best approach for your compliance or sustainability goals.

Our standard Certificate of Destruction includes the serial numbers of all destroyed hard drives, so you’ll always have formal documentation for your records.

Need a deeper level of tracking? We also offer premium audit-grade reporting that links each destroyed drive to the specific device it was removed from, including mapped asset tags, device serials, and custom categories. This service is ideal for clients with internal compliance, legal, or insurance requirements. Just let us know what you need and we’re happy to help!

For most organizations, our standard documentation package already provides everything needed for internal records and compliance reporting.

Every TechBack job includes serialized documentation, including a Certificate of Data Destruction listing the serial numbers of destroyed drives, along with a Zero-Landfill Certificate of Recycling confirming responsible downstream processing.

Together with your Transfer of Custody records and Safe Arrival confirmation, these documents create a clear, traceable record of how your equipment was handled from pickup through final destruction.

For organizations with additional compliance, legal, or insurance requirements, we also offer expanded audit-level documentation services. These can include:

• Asset-to-Drive Mapping
• Individual DoD/NIST wipe reports
• Custom asset categorization and tracking
• ESG-ready environmental reporting
• Photographic or video destruction verification

If your organization has specific compliance requirements, we’re always happy to design a documentation package that fits your internal policies.

Of course! If you need the physical remnants of destroyed drives for compliance or peace of mind, we can securely return them for a fee. If not, we are able to safely recycle them with R2 Certified Partners.

Most of TechBack’s core services are already free for businesses, including equipment pickup, secure chain-of-custody handling, secure data destruction and responsible recycling. Because of that, many organizations find they don’t actually need traditional bulk pricing.

We do offer ongoing recycling plans designed around your company’s workflow. Many of our larger business clients set up scheduled service cycles, such as quarterly or biannual pickups. This keeps old equipment from piling up while ensuring data-bearing devices are handled securely as they come out of service. We also can offer dedicated TechBack collection bins placed in offices or IT departments as an add-on. 

For organizations that use our premium services (such as hard drive shredding, DoD/NIST wipe reporting, or advanced documentation), our pricing is simple and transparent. We use flat per-device rates that are typically well below national ITAD providers, and often more competitive than their bulk-discount pricing.

There are no hidden fees, and all pricing is disclosed up front so you know exactly what to expect.

If your company generates electronics on a regular basis, we’re always happy to help design a simple annual recycling plan that keeps your equipment moving safely and sustainably.